Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 11, 2026

Pseudocreobotra

Pseudocreobotra is a genus of Sub-Saharan flower mantises. They are visually similar to Creobroter species of Asia, but belong to different subfamilies. Their forewings have prominent spiralled eyespots, which are flashed in a silent deimatic display, to startle would-be predators. The nymphs however, expand the raised abdomen in response to threats, to reveal a single dorsal eyespot. The species are easily reared in captivity.

Last revised
Jul 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
190 w
Citations
3
Source
Pseudocreobotra
P. wahlbergi adult
P. wahlbergi nymph
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Hymenopodidae
Subfamily: Hymenopodinae
Tribe: Hymenopodini
Subtribe: Pseudocreobotrina
Genus: Pseudocreobotra
Saussure, 1870
Synonyms
  • Theomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915

Pseudocreobotra is a genus of Sub-Saharan flower mantises. They are visually similar to Creobroter species of Asia,1 but belong to different subfamilies. Their forewings have prominent spiralled eyespots, which are flashed in a silent deimatic display, to startle would-be predators. The nymphs however, expand the raised abdomen in response to threats, to reveal a single dorsal eyespot.2 The species are easily reared in captivity.

Species

The species include:3

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Yager, D.D. (April 1996). "Serially homologous ears perform frequency range fractionation in the praying mantis, Creobroter (Mantodea, Hymenopodidae)". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 178 (4): 463–475. doi:10.1007/BF00190177. PMID 8847662. S2CID 1360448.
  2. Picker, Mike; et al. (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
  3. Ehrmann, Reinhard (2002). Mantodea: Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt. Natur und Tier, Münster. pp. 291–292.