The Garden Mantis (Orthodera ministralis) is a species of praying mantis found in Australia. It is part of the family Mantidae, that includes almost 75% of all praying mantid species in Australia.

Many species of praying mantids including the garden mantis have distinctive egg cases or ‘ootheca’, a word to describe the egg case of cockroaches, mantises, and related insects. The Garden Mantid ootheca is about 2 cm in length and is hard and woody. It is often seen attached to vegetation, fences, buildings and fly screens.

The word is a Latinized combination of oo-, meaning “egg”, from the Greek word ōon, and theca, meaning a “cover” or “container”, from the Greek theke. Ootheke is Greek for ovary.

The word is a Latinized combination of oo-, meaning “egg”, from the Greek word ōon, and theca, meaning a “cover” or “container”, from the Greek theke. Ootheke is Greek for ovary.

The garden mantis is found throughout Australia and can often be found hiding in leafy bushes anywhere from ground to eye level in suburban gardens.

It is carnivorous and feeds on small insects including aphids.

Common name
Garden mantis, Australian green mantis, Garden Mantid, Garden Praying Mantids.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Superorder: Dictyoptera
  • Order: Mantodea
  • Family: Mantidae
  • Genus: Orthodera
  • Species: Orthodera ministralis

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion Witchetty Grub