Tenodera sinensis, Paratenodera sinensis, Statilia maculata, Hierodula patellifera  螳 螂 Táng láng  Chinese Mantis, Praying Mantis   

PART USED: 桑 螵 蛸 Sāng piāo xiāo Mantis egg case  
They deposit an egg casing (ootheca) containing several eggs on twigs (such as mulberry branches, the "sang" in sangpiaoxiao) in autumn. The case is secreted as a foamy material that becomes very hard; it protects the eggs from winter weather and most parasitic insects. Depending on the species and conditions, a female lays from 10-400 eggs per egg case, and usually lays about 6 egg cases (up to 20) in a short period.
Nature: Neutral   FLAVOR: Sweet, salted, pleasant
FUNCTIONS
1. Benefit Kidneys, solidify semen, check urination, relieve vaginal discharge.[2] Strengthen Kidneys and seminal control.[1]
2. Relieves convulsions and calm nerves.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Enuresis, frequent urination, leukorrhea, seminal emission.[2]
2. Impotency, seminal emission, premature ejaculation.[1]
3. Enuresis, incontinence, apprehension, forgetfullness, excessive dreaming.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction- cocoon found on mulberry trees 3-9 g.[1] Dry eggs 4-9g.[2]
The casings are collected for use as an herbal medicine in late autumn through early spring (the eggs hatch May to June as the weather turns warm); they are steamed (which kills eggs that may be present) and then dried (under the sun or in an oven).
    
PART USED: 螳螂 Tángláng Mantis body- with arms and legs removed  
Nature: Cold   FLAVOR: Salty  TOXICITY: Toxic
FUNCTIONS
1. Resolved bruises and clots, reduces stoppages (marasmus), detoxifies.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Gonorrhea, diphtheria[?], infantile marasmus, snake and insect bites, dysmenorrhea and abscesses.[1]
PREPARATIONS: For each dose, use 3-5 mantises, arms and legs removed, then fried before eating.[1]
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Purification and characterization of a plasmin-like protease from Tenodera sinensis (Chinese mantis).
Hahn BS, Cho SY, Ahn MY, Kim YS.
Abstract
A novel type of protease (mantis egg fibrinolytic enzyme, MEF-2) was isolated from the egg cases of Tenodera sinensis. The protease was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and its apparent molecular mass was 32,900 Da. The amino acids in the N-terminal region were Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Glu-Glu-Ala-Val-Ala-Gly-Asp-Phe-Pro-Ile-Val-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu. The enzyme was inhibited by PMSF, TLCK, aprotinin, benzamidine, soybean trypsin inhibitor and also slightly by elastatinal, EDTA, EGTA, cysteine and beta-mercaptoethanol, but TPCK, iodoacetate and E-64 did not affect the activity. MEF-2 was not sensitive to alpha(1)-antitrypsin but antithrombin III and alpha(2)-antiplasmin inhibited the enzyme. MEF-2 preferentially cleaved the oxidized B-chain of insulin between Arg(22) and Gly(23). Among chromogenic protease substrates, the most susceptible to MEF-2 hydrolysis was benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide with maximal activity at 30 degrees C and pH 5.0. These results indicate that MEF-2 belongs to the trypsin family. Upon incubation of crosslinked fibrin with MEF-2, a steady increase of D-dimer suggests that the enzyme has a strong fibrinolytic activity. In conclusion, MEF-2 is a new type of proteolytic enzyme and has some potential for practical application in fibrinolysis.
PMID: 11267896 Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Apr 27;31(6-7):573-81. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov