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Praying Mantis - Epsomantis tortricoides Saw a tiny nymph and a sub-adult of this Praying Mantis in the same location/vicinity a month before (Jan 2022) this sighting and was pleasantly surprised to find this adult on this trip.<br />
<br />
This is a small size Praying Mantis of around 3 cm and the body is quite translucent. When it is feeding, food can be seen being passed through the thorax to the abdomen. Pic using back-lighting to show the translucent body and wings :<br />
<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139052/rare_beauty.html" title="Rare Beauty!"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2994/139052_thumb.jpeg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=MLGmsLAuK9R6OJBCbb3nS945glc%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Rare Beauty! Picture taken with back-lighting to hi-light both the translucent body and wings.<br />
<br />
Pic of same adult with regular lighting :<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139053/praying_mantis_-_epsomantis_tortricoides.html<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhrv85iriY Epsomantis,Epsomantis tortricoides,Malaysia,Mantis,Praying Mantis,Sabah" /></a></figure><br />
<br />
Pic of a sub-adult :<br />
<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/128999/unique.html" title="Unique!"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2994/128999_thumb.jpeg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=MH7O69nJhfwcn4SmdYYf4iCywJE%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Unique! When I chanced upon this Mantis nymph, probably a sub-adult, I tought this looks rather unique as not only it was small in size but the the colouration/markings of the abdomen makes it looks a bit like Planthopper. And later on when I was able to get the ID, naturally I tried to look up for more info about this species and was not surprised that there are hardly any pictures about them and not much is still known about the species. Furthermore, a local friend who has been frequenting this location for nearly 20 years have never encountered this species before!<br />
<br />
Update, pic of the adult :<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139053/praying_mantis_-_epsomantis_tortricoides.html<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhrv85iriY Epsomantis,Epsomantis tortricoides,Malaysia,Mantis,Praying Mantis,Sabah" /></a></figure> Epsomantis,Epsomantis tortricoides,Malaysia,Mantis,Praying Mantis,Sabah

Praying Mantis - Epsomantis tortricoides

Saw a tiny nymph and a sub-adult of this Praying Mantis in the same location/vicinity a month before (Jan 2022) this sighting and was pleasantly surprised to find this adult on this trip.

This is a small size Praying Mantis of around 3 cm and the body is quite translucent. When it is feeding, food can be seen being passed through the thorax to the abdomen. Pic using back-lighting to show the translucent body and wings :

Rare Beauty! Picture taken with back-lighting to hi-light both the translucent body and wings.<br />
<br />
Pic of same adult with regular lighting :<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139053/praying_mantis_-_epsomantis_tortricoides.html<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhrv85iriY Epsomantis,Epsomantis tortricoides,Malaysia,Mantis,Praying Mantis,Sabah

Pic of a sub-adult :

Unique! When I chanced upon this Mantis nymph, probably a sub-adult, I tought this looks rather unique as not only it was small in size but the the colouration/markings of the abdomen makes it looks a bit like Planthopper. And later on when I was able to get the ID, naturally I tried to look up for more info about this species and was not surprised that there are hardly any pictures about them and not much is still known about the species. Furthermore, a local friend who has been frequenting this location for nearly 20 years have never encountered this species before!<br />
<br />
Update, pic of the adult :<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139053/praying_mantis_-_epsomantis_tortricoides.html<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhrv85iriY Epsomantis,Epsomantis tortricoides,Malaysia,Mantis,Praying Mantis,Sabah

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The Epsomantis

''Epsomantis'' is a monotypic genus of mantis in the new family Nanomantidae. It represented by the single species, ''Epsomantis tortricoides''.

Info 3 1

Similar species: Mantises

Species identified by Albert Kang

By Albert Kang

All rights reserved

Uploaded Aug 5, 2022. Captured Feb 24, 2022 19:26.

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TG-6
f/6.3
1/200s
ISO200
18mm

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