General Description

Female body and legs are mainly green with a white stripe along the top of the abdomen and thorax. Males are brown. Wings of both sexes are transparent with a large oval purple patch near the base of the hindwing. Body up to 8 cm long.

Biology

Purple-winged Mantids are most active during autumn. They feed mainly on bees and flies. Females lay eggs as a single mass within a hard, woody case (ootheca).

Distribution

Eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

In vegetation, including gardens and along roadsides.

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