Mediterranean Conehead Mantis (Empusa pennata)

Mediterranean Conehead Mantis, a reference photo — Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY 2.0 (licence)

Empusa pennata, or the conehead mantis, is a species of praying mantis in genus Empusa native to the Mediterranean Region. It can be found in Portugal, Spain, southern France, Italy and on the mediterranean coasts of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Turkey and Egypt. Because of its cryptic nature, or also possibly because of its fragmented, low-density populations, it is rarely encountered in the wild.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Mediterranean Conehead Mantis being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Empusa fasciata
Empusa pennicornis
Empusa binotata
Hemiempusa capensis
Pseudovates arizonae

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Empusidae
Genus: Empusa
Species: Empusa pennata

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