Odontomantis planiceps

Odontomantis planiceps, also known as Asian ant mantis, is a common species of praying mantis.

Odontomantis planiceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Mantodea
Family:	Hymenopodidae
Subfamily:	Hymenopodinae
Tribe:	Anaxarchini
Genus:	Odontomantis
Species:	O. planiceps
Binomial name
Odontomantis planiceps Giglio-Tos, 1913
Synonyms
Odontomantis javana Saussure, 1870

Description

Odontomantis planiceps is a small mantis, with adult size ranging from 1.4 cm for males and 2.0 cm for females.^[1] It is commonly called the Asian ant mantis because it exhibits batesian mimicry in its juvenile stages, resembling black ants - most notably from the 1st to 3rd instar^[1] at which they are most vulnerable from predators.

Odontomantis planiceps is completely black from the 1st to 3rd instar, with green bands at the edges of every thorax segment.

After molting to the 4th instar and up to its ultimate molt, they are mostly green with some variation in color depending on the vegetation in which they reside.^[2]

Distribution

Odontomantis planiceps is a very common mantis throughout its range, readily acclimating and even thriving in urban gardens and inhabiting ornamental plants.

The geographic distribution of this mantis is wide, with most specimens collected in the Southeast Asian range from Malaysia to Indonesia, and this species has even been reported in Hong Kong and Taiwan.^[3]

Behaviour

Odontomantis planiceps usually stands still on leaves waiting for prey to pass. If there is an assumed threat, it will quickly retreat to the bottom of its leaf, while adult males will not hesitate to fly.^[1]

See also

• List of mantis genera and species

• 

  Odontomantis planiceps subadult exhibiting mottled green coloration after growing out of the juvenile phase.