The northernmost Eocene genus and species of praying mantises (Mantodea Burmeister, 1838) from Fur Formation, Denmark

A new fossil mantis, Sergyessa rusti gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a complete forewing from the Fur Formation, Ypresian (lower Eocene) of Denmark. The new genus can be easily distinguished from other praying mantis genera by a long ScP ending at ¾ of the forewing’s length, R with long anterior branches, CuA internally pectinate, CuP sigmoidal and V 1 is 2.7 times longer than V 2. The genus is tentatively placed within Schizomantodea as incertae sedis.

It adds to our knowledge of Mantodea morphological diversity, being only the second Mantodea taxon formally described from Ypresian age after Pseudomantoida extendidera Schubnel & Nel, 2019 and the first fossil mantis from Denmark.