Asian broad-winged mantis Coloring Pages

Asian broad-winged mantis is an insect known for having a flat and wide body compared to other mantises. In everyday places across Japan, you can often see them waiting for prey, especially on tree branches and top of leaves.

Where Its Name and Looks Come From

• Wide Belly: The Japanese name Harabiro means "wide belly." It was named after its look because its body is flat and wide from side to side.
• English Name: In English, it is sometimes called names like "Spotted Mantis" because of its unique look. The Asian broad-winged mantis (Hierodula patellifera) is also called the "Asian Jumping Mantis."

Body Shapes

Asian broad-winged mantis is medium-sized among Japanese mantises, but its flat body really stands out.

• Size: Its body length is about 5 centimeters to 7 centimeters long.
• Color: Most of them are a bright green all over, but some are brown.
• Front Legs (Sickles): Inside the sickles used to catch prey, there is one black spot. This spot helps you tell it apart from other mantises.
• Wings: Some females have short wings, but both males and females have wide bodies, so their wings look big too.

They usually move slowly. But when they spot prey, they snap their sickles fast to catch it!

Where Does It Live?

Asian broad-winged mantis lives widely across warm areas in Asia.

• Main Homes: You can find them across broad areas of Asia, including Japan, China, and India.
• Where in Japan: In Japan, they mostly live in relatively warm regions from flatlands to low mountains, mainly on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
• Places They Live: You can often find them where there are lots of trees and leaves, like park trees, hedges, and grassy fields. They often press close to tree branches and stay flat to hide.

What Does It Eat?

Asian broad-winged mantis is a meat-eating insect.

• Food: They mainly catch and eat insects like grasshoppers, flies, and horseflies, as well as smaller spiders. Mantises only eat live prey.
• How They Hunt: They stay still and hide on leaves or branches, waiting for prey to come near. When the prey gets close, they whip their sickles down fast to grab it.

For this coloring page, the trick is to show the Asian broad-winged mantis's bright green color and its flat body shape.

Basic Coloring Tips

• Whole Body:
  • Colors: Start with the main bright green color as your base. Mix in some yellow-green to make a smooth blend that looks like a real leaf.
  • Flat Body: Color the middle of the body with a lighter shade. Then put dark green shadows along the side edges. This makes its flat 3D shape pop out!
• Scythes (Front Legs):
  • Patterns: Don't forget to color the black dots on the inside of the scythes! Trace the sharp spikes along the edges with a dark green.
• Head and Eyes:
  • Eyes: Color the big eyes with black or dark brown. Leave a small white dot to show shining light. This gives your mantis a sharp, cool look!
  • Face: Color the jaw part of the face with a slightly lighter color to make its face stand out.

Special Part Colors

• Wings:
  • Wing Colors: Use a green that is a bit lighter than the body, or a yellow-green. Color them softly so they look see-through and light.
  • Wing Lines: Carefully draw the thin lines on the wings with a dark green to give them a neat, detailed feel.
• Background Leaves:
  • Background: Use a different green for the leaves where the Asian broad-winged mantis hides. This will make your mantis stand out from the leaves!

Hints for Having Fun with Your Coloring Page!

• Express Yourself Freely!
  • Imagine the Asian broad-winged mantis hunting its prey! It's super fun to draw extra grasshoppers or tiny bugs around its scythes. Color and draw however you like!
• Draw a Hiding Scene!
  • To show off the mantis's flat body, try drawing tree branches or a hedge in the background. It shows how it blends into nature, and makes your picture look full of life!