27-10-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

Iris oratoria, known by the common name Mediterranean mantis (or less frequently iris mantis), due to humans first studying it in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, is a species of praying mantis. Its range is expanding in the Middle East, Western Asia and the United States.

Albania, Bulgaria, Brač Island, Korčula Island, France (Including Corsica), Greece (Including Ionian Islands, Crete, Cyclades Islands), Italy (Including Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain (Including Balearic Islands), Yugoslavia (Including Serbia, Kosovo, Voivodina, Montenegro), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria,[9] Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, North Chad), Cyprus, West, Central and South Asia (Asian Turkey, India, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkestan Non-native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas.

Two novel I. oratoria survival strategies may have contributed to the expansion of this species beyond its original range, and its success in areas formerly occupied by other mantids such as Stagmomantis carolina. Firstly, this species is capable of parthenogenic reproduction when males are scarce. Secondly, additional I. oratoria nymphs may emerge from their oothecae in the second season after the egg case is produced, i.e., when their siblings are already grown and are producing their own offspring.

The Mediterranean mantis is known for two distinctive behaviours, apart from the ambush hunting common to other mantids: cannibalism and deimatic or threat displays. The sexual cannibalism of mantids known in popular culture occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of I. oratoria.

2-9-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

Iris oratoria, known by the common name Mediterranean mantis (or less frequently iris mantis), due to humans first studying it in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, is a species of praying mantis. Its range is expanding in the Middle East, Western Asia and the United States.

The Mediterranean mantis is known for two distinctive behaviours, apart from the ambush hunting common to other mantids: cannibalism and deimatic or threat displays. The sexual cannibalism of mantids known in popular culture occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of I. oratoria.

When the mantis is under attack, it sets in motion a complex series of actions which combine to form a startling deimatic display. The mantis turns to face the aggressor, rears up by arching its back, curls its abdomen upwards (dorsiflexion), raises and waves its forelimbs, raises its wings to displays the large brightly coloured eyespots on the hindwings, and stridulates by scraping the edge of its hindwings against its tegmina, the leathery front wings.

13-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

7-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

9-9-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

20-7-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

30-11-2020 FORNA, ALICANTE - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

 

26-10-2020 XERACO, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

 

27-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67437-Iris-oratoria

1-11-2006 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

13-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

1-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

The Mediterranean Mantis (Iris oratoria) is a widespread species of praying mantis native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. It is a pale green insect that can reach up to \(6.5\) cm in length and is distinguished by a red-orange spot on the fourth abdominal segment and large, violet-brown eyespots on its hind wings. It is known for its predatory behavior, laying eggs in a protective foam-like ootheca, and has become an invasive species in parts of the United States. Description Scientific Name: Iris oratoriaSize: Adults can reach lengths of up to \(6.5\) cm.Color: Typically pale green, it can mature to a green color.Distinctive Features:A red-orange spot on the ventral side of the fourth abdominal segment.Two large, startling violet-brown eyespots on its hind wings, which are revealed when the wings are unfolded.

Reproduction: Lays eggs in a foam-like ootheca that hardens for protection. Parthenogenesis (reproduction without males) can occur if males are scarce.

Behavior: A highly efficient ambush predator that consumes small insects. Sexual cannibalism can occur. 

Habitat and Range Native Range: The Mediterranean region of Europe.Introduced Range: It has also been introduced to the Middle East, Western Asia, and the United States, where it is spreading. As an Invasive Species The Mediterranean Mantis is considered an invasive species in parts of the United States, having been introduced to southern California in the 1930s.It has adapted well to the climate there and seems to be spreading further. 

19-12-2018 CATARROJA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN MANTIS (FEMALE) (Iris oratoria)

Iris oratoria, known by the common name Mediterranean mantis (or less frequently iris mantis), due to humans first studying it in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, is a species of praying mantis. Its range is expanding in the Middle East, Western Asia and the United States.

Albania, Bulgaria, Brač Island, Korčula Island, France (Including Corsica), Greece (Including Ionian Islands, Crete, Cyclades Islands), Italy (Including Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain (Including Balearic Islands), Yugoslavia (Including Serbia, Kosovo, Voivodina, Montenegro), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, North Chad), Cyprus, West, Central and South Asia (Asian Turkey, India, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkestan), Non-native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas.

 

I. oratoria is very pale when young but matures to grass green, and grows to about 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long. The species may be distinguished from Mantis religiosa and other mantids with which it shares a range and general size and shape by the red-orange spot on the ventral side of the fourth (second to last) abdominal segment; also, its cerci are shorter than those of M. religiosa. The species is distinctive in having two large startling violet-brown eyespots on its hind wings which are revealed when its wings are unfolded. The adult is more slender than Tenodera sinensis, more like Mantis religiosa in shape. Females have wings shorter than the abdomen, very similar to some Stagmomantis species, but easily distinguished if the hindwings are visible.

Two novel I. oratoria survival strategies may have contributed to the expansion of this species beyond its original range, and its success in areas formerly occupied by other mantids such as Stagmomantis carolina. Firstly, this species is capable of parthenogenic reproduction when males are scarce. Secondly, additional I. oratoria nymphs may emerge from their oothecae in the second season after the egg case is produced, i.e., when their siblings are already grown and are producing their own offspring.

At a field site in Davis, California, S. limbata hatched earlier in the season than Iris oratoria, and Iris oratoria tended to persist longer into the year.

The Mediterranean mantis is known for two distinctive behaviours, apart from the ambush hunting common to other mantids: cannibalism and deimatic or threat displays. The sexual cannibalism of mantids known in popular culture occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of I. oratoria.

When the mantis is under attack, it sets in motion a complex series of actions which combine to form a startling deimatic display. The mantis turns to face the aggressor, rears up by arching its back, curls its abdomen upwards (dorsiflexion), raises and waves its forelimbs, raises its wings to displays the large brightly coloured eyespots on the hindwings, and stridulates by scraping the edge of its hindwings against its tegmina, the leathery front wings.