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.[6][15][16] 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,[6][16] 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. oratorianymphs 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.[8][17]
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.[8]
Behaviour
[edit]An adult female Iris oratoria in a deimatic or threat pose
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.[4][18]
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.[19]
Compared to Stagmomantis limbata, Iris oratoria eats a lesser portion of Orthopteran insects and does not eat as much long bodied insects. S. limbata adults have longer pronota and forelegs than I. oratoria adults. This difference in body size might be an important cause of the dietary differences between the species. Furthermore, the earlier hatch date for S. limbata also might reduce the overlap in Iris oratoria and Stagmomantis limbata diets.[8]
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-10-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) TexasA&MUniversity Tarachodidae list
^ abcd"Range Expansion of an Introduced Mantid Iris oratoria and Niche Overlap with a Native Mantid Stagmomantis limbata (Mantodea: Mantidae)" by Michael R. Maxwell and Ofer Eitan, Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 91, Number 4, July 1998.
^ abc"Archived copy"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2014-02-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Title: Updated Checklist of India Mantodea (Insecta) Authors: Mukherjee et al. Date:1995
^[1] By Bugguide user Bryan Doty, Title: "Mediterranean mantis (Iris oratoria) - Iris oratoria - Male", Location: "Kingman, Arizona, Mohave County, Arizona, USA", Date: "September 1, 2008"
^[2] By Bugguide user julieha64, Title: "?? - Iris oratoria", Locationa: "pittsburg, contra costa County, California, USA", Date: "September 26, 2009", Size of the light brown Iris oratoria adult male doing a threat pose in the image on Bugguide.net: "Size: 2 inches?"
^[3] By Bugguide user Jason R Eckberg, Title: "Immature mantis - Iris oratoria - Male", Location: "Las Vegas Wash within the Clark County Wetlands Park, Clark County, Nevada, USA", Date: July 12, 2011
^[4] By Bugguide user Paul Lenhart, Title:"Iris oratorio female - Iris oratoria - Female", Location: "red sand dunes approx. 35 km E. of El Paso nr. Hueco Mountains along Hwy. 62, El Paso County, Texas, USA", Date: "September 26, 2007", Comment or Description about the image on Bugguide.net: "This female and the male I am submitting images of were found mating on a sunflower at night in the desert."
