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mantis
Can you please identify this mantis for me. The photo was taken 11-16-2005 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thanks. It is probably about 3 inches long.
Ron Evans
Tulsa, OK
Hi Ron,
This is a female Carolina Mantis, Stagmomantis carolina. The mantis is far more wide ranging than its name implies.
praying mantis
This is Maude, my pet praying mantis. I know that she is a female because she has laid about 6 or 7 small pinkish egg cases. I think she may be a grass-like mantis but I am not sure. I would really appreciate any info you have on her. I found her near my home in Lynn Haven, FL. near Panama City. By the way, I love this site!
Thanks
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Maude is indeed a Grasslike Mantis, Thesprotia graminis. Other names include Grass Mantid, Grass Mantis, Walkingstick Mantis, and Walkingstick Mantid. This species is found in the Southern states. Males are winged and strong fliers. The posture of carrying the raptor front legs stretched out forward is characteristic of this mantis.
Praying Mantis egg case is where it should not be….
Help Bugman!
What do we do now?
As you know, we found this Praying Mantis around Thanksgiving day, and we decided to keep it because it was too cold to leave it outside. Well, today (December 16), I came home from work and found that she had just attached an egg case to the lid (metal mesh) of the terrarium that she is currently living inside. Isn’t it kind of late in the season for her to be doing this? Anyway, if she had put the egg case on one of the vines, I could have taken it and hidden it outside in one of the bushes. But, instead, she had to go and stick it to this big metal lid. I know that if we keep this egg case inside the house where it is warm, a gazillion praying mantis babies will hatch sometime in January or February. It will be still way too cold for them to go outside and I doubt if we could keep them all alive. So, I know that it is important to get this egg case out of this warm house as soon as possible. Problem is, this lid is way too big to put in the refrigerator and too big to hide outside in our small bushes. First we saved the mom, now we have to find a way to preserve her offspring. (I’ve attached a picture of our dilemma). I’m not sure what to do about this. Any suggestions?
Mary Strong-Spaid
Hi again Mary,
We are sorry to hear that your kind deed is becoming a burden. First, mother Mantis will not live forever. You could try putting the entire terrarium outside after she dies. Perhaps a better solution is to pry the eggcase off of the screen and proceed with the plan to place it in the bushes. The eggcase is composed of an insulating foam and prying it off once it is hardened will not damage all of the eggs. You will then help to ensure the survival of the some of the offspring by postponing the hatching until there is a food supply. Good Luck.
Thanks for the advice on what to do with the egg case. I would really like to see the them around in the spring. We didn’t want them accidently coming out into a winter world where there is not enough room or enough food. I assure you that our Praying Mantis, Martha (my husband named her), is not a burden! We have enjoyed having her with us for the past few weeks. We know that it won’t be long now before she dies. We’ll be sorry to see her go. Again, thanks for the help.
Mary
Mantid mating the killing mate
Bugman:
Thought you would like these photos for your sight. After 12 hours of constant copulation, the female bit off the males head, phallus, and ate him from the neck down. I have the entire sequence, but will send only 2 or three. These were taken with a Nikkon Cool Pix macro camera in sept 05
Ron Rogers
Hi Ron,
Sadly only one of your images arrived. We are very eager to get the whole image. Could you please resend them. This sex organ close-up is awesome.
what is this
A Preying Mantis
Is this a good bug or bad bug?
Dear Bugman,
We have Praying Mantis’ in our yard here in Rocklin (Sacramento) CA. Shortly after seeing they are getting ready for the winter we see this Cocoon or Crysalis (which is it?). Are these the eggs for the good bug, Praying Mantis, or do I need to get rid of these if they’re a bad bug? Or, thirdly, are these good eggs for some other bug? Thanks for the insight and help as we decide to keep or eliminate this addition to the house this winter!
Larry in Rocklin CA.
Hi Larry,
We love your mating Mantis photo. The result of the coupling is the subject of your second photo, a Preying Mantis Egg Case. The female spews out a frothy substance with her eggs that hardens to protect them from inclement weather. Come spring, you will have 100’s of baby Mantids emerging to rid your garden of unwanted, and occasionally beneficial, insects.
mantis
Hi Bugman,
We found this mantis in our garage on 9/28/05. Can you tell us what type of manits this is?
Thank You
Christa
Oklahoma City
Hi Christina,
We needed to check with Eric Eaton to be sure and this is his response: “Looks like another Brunner’s mantis, but a female this time(?). Another nice shot we could use on Bugguide. Eric ” We would like to ask your permission to post this on BugGuide as well, as per Eric’s request.
found another interesting mantid
Caught this girl at work as well. Although not where I find the Brunner’s at. I’m not too sure on this one but I was thinking it may be a grizzled mantis. On Brunner’s mantis, I have collected 2 more specimens. One I caught last week and the 3rd today. I have let go all 3 here at the house in hopes of establishing a nice colony around here. We don’t use pesticides and there are plenty of insects for them to feed on. Anyway, enjoy these pics of the new mantis. Let me know what it might be. Thanks again,
Steven Koenig
Hi again Steven,
Thanks for the Brunner’s Mantis update. Be sure to let us know if the introduction works and you get a new generation next year. This is not a grizzled mantis, but a Carolina Mantid, Stagmomantis carolina. The wings do not extend to the tip of the abdomen, especially in the female, like your specimen. The Carolina Mantid is the state insect of South Carolina.
Green Carolina Mantid
(10/16/2005) here’s another mantis Stagmo too??
First, Thanks for the info on the Gray Stagmo. Didn’t know it was the state insect. Second, here are some pics of another mantis caught today at work. Is this one a Stagmo(except for this one’s green)too? They seem to be popping out of nowhere at my place of work. They must have gotten wind of a better place to stay, LOL. Thanks again.
Steven
Hi Steven,
You are correct. The Carolina Mantid has both a brown and green form. This is one of the female mantids that is known for devouring her mate during the sex act.
mating praying mantis
Hi there!
I appreciate your website! It’s been entertaining and informative! I’m enclosing two photos (taken in mid September in Southeastern PA) of praying mantis mating or about to… they maintained this pose for at least 45 minutes. I wanted to see if the female does indeed terminate the relationship by eating her mate but I had to go take care of the family (dinner time.) And so it goes… Any information you could add would be helpful.
Thanks very much – Kristin
Hi Kristin,
Much of what we are about to say is speculation on your photograph. First, the female mantis does not always eat her mate, but it often happens. A wily male will escape. You photo does show a pair with the male on top and this must have something to do with mating. We suspect he has captured her, but is not in the proper position to do the deed. He needs to turn himself around without losing either his mate or his life. Guess we will never know if he succeeded.
strange looking mantis
Hi
I live in Swaziland in Southern Africa and saw a strangley patterned mantis this morning, maybe it is of some interest. (see pics attached)
Regards
Franc le Roux
Hi Franc,
We are struck by the asymetry of the pattern. What a lovely mantis.
Identified at last: Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii
(04/28/2006) Swaziland Mantis
The mantis with an unusual pattern on its back is Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii, I raise them myself. Attached is a L4 nymph of the same species in its threat pose. Feel free to crop the image.
Ian
Thank you so much Ian,
You have single-handedly identified all of our unidentified exotic Mantids. Next time we get one that stumps us, we plant to contact you. Thanks again.
Praying Mantis
Dear Bugman:
Thank you for your answer. What’s praying mantis is this?. My son caught it on the tire of our car two weeks ago. Your Web-Page must win an Award because it is the Best Web-Page that I have ever seen to know more about insects, and every one of the Pictures are excellents. Congratulations !. Way to Go !.
Jorge Lopez Collado
College Station, Texas.
Thanks for the compliment Jorge,
We believe this might be a Grasslike Mantis in the Genus Thesprotia. We checked with Eric Eaton for confirmation and here is his answer: “Can’t really tell. Unless there is more than one species, though, Thesprotia graminis is only found from FL to MS, according to Jacques, which may be outdated. “
Pray to the Mantis
Hello Bug Master.
My daughter and I just found your wonderful site while searching for the name of a bug we commonly see in the northeast but didn’t find the exact species so I will be sure to photograph it next time. I thought everyone might enjoy these shots of this most majestic creature. I was walking in a field of golden rod and wild asparagus enjoying breathtaking views of the Hudson river under the Catskill mountains when my eyes focused on a cluster of brilliant goldenrod and I saw the largest Mantis I could imagine. As I stood still watching in amazement I realized that there were dozens of them all around me warming in the sun waiting for an unsuspecting dragonfly or beetle to wonder past. Truly memorable experience.
Thank-you for creating this wonderful site!
Christopher Waterous
Hi Christopher,
Thank you for the compliment. We remember fondly growing up in Ohio and seeing fields of goldenrod in the fall. On many of the flower tops there awaited huge Preying Mantids waiting for bees, wasps, grasshoppers and locust borers.
