Sphodromantis viridis
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
Sphodromantis viridis is a species of praying mantis that is kept worldwide as a pet. Its common names include African mantis, giant African mantis, and bush mantis. Sphodromantis viridis is popularly called the African mantis, but that common name is shared with not only other species in its genus (i.e. S. belachowski, S. centralis, S. gastrica, S. lineola, etc.), but also
Miomantis caffra and others, as well. Sphodromantis viridis is native to West Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It can also be found as an introduced species in areas outside its original range, including Israel and Spain.
Despite its scientific name (viridis is Latin for green) this insect ranges in color from bright green to dull brown. Females can reach 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. Sexual dimorphism is typical of mantises; the male is much smaller. Females may also be distinguished from males as they have a six-segmented abdomen compared to an eight-segmented abdomen of the male.
As adults, both sexes have a distinctive white spot on their wings. They have a yellowish color on their inner fore leg distinguishable from the black eyespot and white dots of the European mantis... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Giant African Mantis sighting in Sierra Nevada National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 330th most-seen of the 479 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Giant African Mantis in Sierra Nevada National Park on a given day, against under 5% in November to August, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Giant African Mantis sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Giant African Mantis sightings, Sierra Nevada National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Doñana National Park (Spain, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Giant African Mantis is recorded against all the insects logged in Sierra Nevada National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
