Profile Prayingmantids The praying mantis is named for Typically green or brown and its prominent front legs which are held well camouflaged, mantids either lie together at an angle that suggests a in ambush or patiently stalk prey, us- praying position. The larger group of ing their front legs and faster-than-the- parents. Nymphs generally have seven these insects should be called the pray- eye-can see reflexes to snare it. The or more molts before maturity. ing mantids. Mantis refers to the genus front legs are further equipped with Eggs are laid late in the season in mantis; only some mantids belong. spikes for pinning it in place. an egg case which is first foamy, then Mantids are formidable predators Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, papery after the foam sets. Eggs hatch regardless of what they are called. They flies, bees, and other insects are typi- en masse in the spring. have triangular heads with two large cal prey. However, the insects will also Except for adaptations to predatory compound eyes and three simple eyes eat others of their own kind. life that make the group look peculiar, located between them. The head is on Females regularly lay hundreds of mantids are otherwise very close to an elongated thorax and can turn 180 eggs in a small case, and nymphs hatch roaches and termites, and can be rea- degrees to scan the surroundings . looking much like tiny versions of their sonably described as predatory roaches.

SOUTH FLORIDA MANTIDS Brunner’s Mantid, Brunneria borealis, tids at one to one and a third inches while females are 3-4.25 inches in is a species of praying mantis na- long. It is native to the southern U.S. length. They have a tan, brown, or tive to the Southern United States. The body is delicately striped length occasionally pale green cuticle, with It is the only species known to re- wise in brown and tan or can be the exposed edge of the forewings produce solely through partheno- solid brown. creating a green stripe on the side of genesis; there are no males. It is European Mantids, Mantis religiosa, the body. found in tall grass habitat where it originated in southern Europe Larger Florida Mantids, Stagmomantis preys on grasshoppers. and were introduced to North floridensis, and the Carolina Grizzled Mantids, Gonatista grisea, are America in 1899 on a shipment of Mantid are under the same genus native to the Southern nursery plants. The Eu- of Stagmomantis due to the simi- United States, prima- ropean Mantid is usually larity in appearance – except for the rily Florida. Unlike 2–3 inches in length, size. S. floridensis has been given most mantids, it has a and has shades of bright a common name Larger Florida rough outline and a green to tan. It can be dis- Mantid compared to S. carolina mottled gray/green tinguished easily by a which is visibly smaller. However, color pattern that black-ringed spot beneath both species do share many make the insect al- the first joint of the front similarities. S. floridensis can be most impossible to leg, next to the body. De- observed near swampy areas which spot as it sits on the li- spite being an introduced suggests it is accustomed to high hu- chen-covered trunk of species, it is the official midity. a tree, right. It is also state insect of Connecti- Carolina Mantids, Stagmomantis rather small, maybe cut. carolina, have a dark colored dot on three inches long. Narrow-winged Mantids, Tenodera each of their forewings (outer-wings) Grass-like Mantids, Thesprotia angustipennis, are often brown or which may be partially hidden in a graminis, are native to Florida and green and have a proportionately brown or dark color morph indi- Georgia. They are a long, slender more elongate pronotum and vidual. An unusual trait is that its mantis often confused with Walking- shorter, narrower tegmina and wing wings only extend three quarters of sticks, especially when they move than the Chinese mantid. They have the way down the abdomen in ma- with the forearms outstretched. a brown, patterned streak on each ture females. Carolina Mantid Males have long wings and are of their transparent hind wings that color varies because the nymphs good fliers. Females are wingless the Chinese mantids don’t have. are able to adjust their color to and resemble a pine needle. Chinese Mantids, Tenodera aridifolia, match the environment they are in Scudder’s Mantid, Oligonicella are an introduced species. at the time of molting. Adults do not scudderi, is among the smaller man- Males are 2.5-3.5 inches in length adjust their colors.