Overview
The Australian species, which belong to 8 genera in the subfamily Paraoxypilinae, are small mantids that mostly live on the ground or tree trunks where their cryptic coloration makes them difficult to detect. Males are fully winged and, in most species, females are apterous or brachypterous. Apterous females of
Cliomantis
closely resemble males but apterous females of
Paraoxypilus
are markedly dissimilar to males. While at rest,
Paraoxypilus
females frequently engage in 'boxing' displays, extending and flexing the fore legs alternately and, in some species, showing bright colour markings on the inner face of these legs. It is thought that this is probably a territorial display helping to space out individuals of the species. Females of
Nesoxypilus
from northern Australia are apterous and mimic ants (
Rhytidoponera
), running in short sharp bursts with foraging ants and displaying ant-like antennal movements. It is uncertain whether this mimicry assists the mantids to prey on ants or serves to protect the mantids from predators. Both sexes of
Gyromantis
have prominent short spines on the head and pronotum. The oothecae in this genus are very long and narrow and are attached to tree trunks.