Formosan giant mantis
Titanodula formosana
The Formosan giant mantis is a big praying mantis from eastern Asia. Like all mantises, it holds its spiky front legs folded up, as if it is praying. It sits very still and waits for an insect to come close, then grabs it in a flash.
Lives in
China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Sunda islands of Indonesia
Can it hurt you?
Harmless
Harmless. It might give a little pinch with its front legs if grabbed, but it cannot really hurt you.
What does it eat?
It catches insects with its spiky front legs and eats them.
How fast is it?
A tortoise about 0.3 km/h (0.19 mph)
Formosan giant mantis about 1 km/h (0.62 mph)
A person walking about 5 km/h (3.1 mph)
A kid running fast about 13 km/h (8.1 mph)
cool stuff
Fun facts
1
In 2020 scientists moved it into a brand new group called Titanodula, partly because it is so big.
2
Formosa is an old name for the island of Taiwan, one of the places where it lives.
3
A mantis can turn its head to look over its shoulder, which most insects cannot do.
you asked
Most asked questions about Formosan giant mantis
?Is the Formosan giant mantis dangerous?
No. It is harmless to people, though it may pinch a little if you grab it.
?What does the Formosan giant mantis eat?
Insects, which it catches with its spiky front legs.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Titanodula formosana
- Group
- Mantises
- Family
- Mantidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Mantodea > Mantidae
- Lives on
- Asia
Where the facts come from
- Titanodula formosana (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by bloodlesshunting. CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.
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