Transcaucasian Giant Mantis

Fascinating facts about the Transcaucasian Giant Mantis

• Since 2006 the Transcaucasian Giant Mantis has raced northward across Ukraine, jumping from the southern Black Sea coast to the Donetsk region in just a few years. The first post-Soviet sighting was a female caught on 08.10.2018 at 46.905133 N, 37.114695 E, followed by multiple nymphs recorded on 09.07.2019 at 46.914026 N, 37.158154 E and 46.925442 N, 37.304392 E. By July 2020 larvae appeared at 46.952194 N, 37.319752 E and 47.055468 N, 37.496234 E, and a nymph was recorded near Mariupol on 21.07.2020. This cascade of dated, geo-referenced finds shows how quickly the species can colonise new habitats, warning that other regions may face similar rapid expansions.
• Iranian records once listed four Hierodula species, including H. transcaucasica, but their true identities remain fuzzy.
• Scientists admit they still can't untangle the relationship between H. transcaucasica and its close cousin H. tenuidentata across Eurasia.

At a glance

About the Transcaucasian Giant Mantis

In the warm, sun-drenched landscapes of its native range, the Transcaucasian Giant Mantis moves with a deliberate, almost meditative slowness, its elongated body swaying gently as it navigates the intricate tapestry of leaves and twigs. With eyes that seem to hold a deep, ancient wisdom, this magnificent insect surveys its surroundings, waiting for the perfect moment to strike with its spiny, predatory forelegs, a masterclass in patience and stealth. As it glides through the underbrush, its mottled green carapace blending seamlessly into the foliage, the Transcaucasian Giant Mantis embodies the very essence of a ghostly, unseen world, hidden in plain sight.

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