Toxodera Explained

Toxodera^[1] is the type genus of mantises in the family Toxoderidae, known for their stick mimicry. There are four confirmed species in Borneo restricted to old-growth forests, and are considered to be rare. Species of the South-East Asian Toxoderini inhabit beneath the forest canopy. Not much is known regarding their ecology. Males however, are often attracted to lights.^{[2] [3]} One species, Toxodera maxima, can reach 18 cm in total length.

Species

The Mantodea Species File^[4] lists:

• Toxodera beieri Roy, 2009
• Toxodera denticulata Serville, 1837 (slender flower mantis, synonym T. gigas Ouwens, 1913) - type species
• Toxodera fimbriata Werner, 1930 (feathered mantis)
• Toxodera hauseri Roy, 2009
• Toxodera integrifolia Werner, 1925
• Toxodera maculata Beier, 1913
• Toxodera maxima Roy, 2009
• Toxodera pfanneri Roy, 2009

Notes and References

1. Serville (1837) Annals. Soc. ent. Fr. 6: 27
2. Schwarz, Christian & Konopik, Oliver. (2014). An annotated checklist of the praying mantises (Mantodea) of Borneo, including the results of the 2008 scientific expedition to Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Zootaxa. 3797. 130-68. 10.11646/zootaxa.3797.1.12.
3. Roy, R. 2009. "Révision des Toxoderini sensu novo (Mantodea, Toxoderinae)." Revue suisse de zoologie 116, 93–183.
4. http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1185956 Mantodea Species File (Version 5.0/5.0)