Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Galapagia solitaria
Mantis religiosa, Praying Mantis
Arid to humid forest zones; January-March, June, September-October. The adult males have functional wings, but adult females have much reduced wings. Collected by beating vegetation, in malaise traps, or at lights.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Mantodea
Family
Thespidae
Section
Thespini
Genus
Galapagia
Species
solitaria
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Endemic
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Baltra, Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Genovesa, Isabela, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago, and Seymour Islands.
- Peck, S.B. (2001) Smaller Orders of Insects of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 278 pp.
- Hebard, M. (1920) Expedition of the Calfornia Academy of Sciences to the Galapagos Islands, 1905-1906. 17. Dermaptera and Orthoptera. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series 2(17): 311-346.
- Peck, S.B. (1996) Diversity and distribution of the orthopteroid insects of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1497-1510.
- Linsley, E.G. Usinger, R.L. (1966) Insects of the Galápagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Fourth Series 33(7): 113-196.
- Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Galapagia solitaria", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5896. Accessed 23 May 2025.