Redescription of <i>Hierodula coarctata</i> Saussure (Mantodea: Mantidae) from Maharashtra, India

Abstract

In the current study a mantid species, Hierodula coarctata (Saussure, 1869) is redescribed. The study is based on 15 male and 5 female specimens (live and preserved) collected from different parts of Maharashtra, India during 2002-2004. Striking color variations, structure of male genitalia and other important morphological characters are discussed and illustrated. The species is redescribed as the previous reported description was insufficiently short and does not provide any information on color variations and character-based differences between the sexes.