The Other Orthopteroids: Mantids, Roaches, Termites, Stick Insects, & Kin

[brontodocus]

Nice figure - and big! Of course it has its inaccuracies but I like it. The wings look a little translucent and it's a nice feature that they are individual pieces.

I knew Jasman before for their dinosaur figures - they are sort of hit and miss. However, some have their own charm. I've got a ridiculously inaccurate but very sympathic big Carnotaurus figure from Libraraptor six years ago which has been nicknamed "Mr. Cuddles" by fellow DTF member Horridus (and my kids still refer to it as Mr. Cuddles):

[BlueKrono]

My random insects, including some mantids

[brontodocus]

Restored images of AoA Tree Lobster.

[bmathison1972]

I have recaptured these images for Postimage.

[bmathison1972]

I have recaptured these images for Postimage.

[bmathison1972]

Walkarounds of the Japanese giant mantis, Tenodera aridifolia (Stoll, 1813) by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (T-TARTS), B.I.G. Insects. I should note, these Japanese mantis figures are sometimes marketed as T. sinensis, which has been considered conspecific or a subspecies of T. aridifolia, but T. sinensis is now considered a valid species. I am not an orthropterist but I consider these mantids made by Japanese companies to be T. aridifolia unless otherwise convinced.

These two figures were released as the 'non-scarabaeoids' in the 2015 and 2016 B.I.G. Insects sets. Each year T-TARTS releases a set of 'big' insects that includes four scarabeoid beetles and one 'other'. In 2017 it was a Japanese carpenter ant and this year it is a forthcoming migratory locust!

The 2015 figure is 13.5 cm long and the 2016 figure is 10.0 cm long, making the 2016 figure 1:1 and the 2015 figure slightly larger. Like all T-TARTS figures, there is some assembly. The 2016 figure followed suit with the scarab beetles and has metal rather than plastic wing covers.

On to the pics of both (2015, then 2016, then both):

2015:











2016:











Both:

[bmathison1972]

Bandai Spirits Idolomantis diabolica (2021):

[sphyrna18]

Blaine, that Bandai Spirits Idolomantis is EPIC!  is it 1:1?

[sphyrna18]

Nevermind - you already answered that question in your excellent Mathison Museum of Natural History entry!  Excellent!

[bmathison1972]

2021: Year of the Mantid (?) @sphyrna18

1. tropical shield mantis, Choeradodis stalii (Takara)
2. Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys lobata (Takara)
3. D. lobata (Bandai)
4. dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys truncata (Bandai)
5. orchid mantis, Hymenopus coronatus (Takara)
6. giant Devil's flower mantis, Idolomantis diabolica (Bandai Spirits)

Four of these five species were introduced to the toy realm this year!!!

[sphyrna18]

2021: Year of the Mantid (?) @sphyrna18

1. tropical shield mantis, Choeradodis stalii (Takara)
2. Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys lobata (Takara)
3. D. lobata (Bandai)
4. dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys truncata (Bandai)
5. orchid mantis, Hymenopus coronatus (Takara)
6. giant Devil's flower mantis, Idolomantis diabolica (Bandai Spirits)

Four of these five species were introduced to the toy realm this year!!!

It's about time!! Now - if only we could get some more love for the Phasmids and Orthopterans!!

They are looking really good!!

[bmathison1972]

Kaiyodo Megacrania tsudai: