Hierodula membranacea
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Hierodula membranacea is a large-bodied praying mantis, sharing its common name giant Asian mantis with other large members of genus Hierodula, of which it is the type species. Its colours vary from green to yellow-green, or even brown to reddish-brown, similar to those of the giant Indian mantis and the giant Malaysian mantis. As the name suggests, it originates from south-eastern Asia and is among the largest of mantises. Male and female adults reach around 7–9 centimetres (2.8–3.5 in), excluding extended forelegs. It is a cannibalistic species, with the females sometimes eating the males after mating.
Hierodula membranacea inhabits shrubs and tree in hot and humid climates, with temperatures of 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F) and a humidity of 60% to 70%. This mantis can jump around twice its body length, and although adults are capable of flight, some females occasionally have been known to jump as adults. When cornered by predators, the mantis will adopt a threat display wherein it rears back with its wings and forelegs spread and mouth opened. Should a predator ignore the display, the mantis will strike out with its forelegs and bite. While mantises are not... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Golden Giant Asian Mantis sighting in Chennai on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 298th most-seen of the 376 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June and September–October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Golden Giant Asian Mantis in Chennai on a given day, against under 5% in July–August and November–May, the lowest months. Those are among Chennai's wettest months, with about 160 mm of rain a month against 5 mm in February.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Golden Giant Asian Mantis sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
3rd of 3
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Golden Giant Asian Mantis sightings, Chennai ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Salem (India, about 10%) and Bengaluru (India, about 10%).
Same order: Mantodea
The closest relatives of the Golden Giant Asian Mantis that you can see in Chennai (order Mantodea, Mantises) are Wandering Violin Mantis (about 10%) and Indian Unicorn Boxer Mantis (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Golden Giant Asian Mantis is recorded against all the insects logged in Chennai (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
