Found on Braemar Hill, North Point, Hong Kong on December 27, 2001 on the underside of a leaf. Dr. Dennis S. Hill, Hong Kong Insects, Vol. II, 1982, identifies this as a Leptomantella species (Leaf Mantid) which is clearly incorrect. The green form on the left, below, is the final nymphal stage before maturity. The limbs are quite delicate and the nymphal mantid tended not to eat anything much larger than a fruit fly or moth fly, though near the time for molting and afterward quite willingly took house flies. A second nymphal specimen however, refused to eat the larger houseflies offered and died (due to a scarcity of smaller prey).

The nymph molted into the mature form at the beginning
of February.
3.6 cm / 1.4 inches long, from head to end of wings
The black (food) in the abdomen shows the mantid's
intestinal tract.
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