About Sphodromantis gastrica Stal, 1858
Sphodromantis gastrica Stal, 1858 is a species of praying mantis that goes by the common names African mantis or common green mantis, and it is native to Africa. The average body length of this species ranges from 65 to 75 millimetres, which is equal to 2.6 to 3.0 inches. It has a very broad diet, hunting any prey that is of a reasonable size. Its average lifespan is approximately 332 days, and females of this species typically live longer than males. Around 41.8% of individuals survive to reach adulthood. This species was previously classified under two other scientific names: Hierodula bicarinata (first described by Saussure in 1869) and Sphodromantis guttata (first described by Giglio-Tos in 1907). Documented locations where this species has been found include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and East Africa.
