Carolina mantis

The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is a species of praying mantis of the subfamily Stagmomantinae.

Sexual cannibalism occurs in roughly one quarter of all intersexual encounters of this species, though specimens of this species will engage in cannibalism regardless of age or gender if the opportunity presents itself.<ref name="sex">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Carolina mantis is the state insect of South Carolina. Oothecae can be purchased in garden supply centers as a means of biological control of pest insects.

Description

Dorsal view of a female collected from Baldwin County, Georgia.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Scale bar indicates 1 cm.

Adult females are Template:Convert in length while adult males are usually about Template:Convert in length.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> First instar nymphs are Template:Convert in length. When the nymphs eat more, their abdomens get much longer.

The Carolina mantis has a dusty brown, gray or green color useful as camouflage in certain environments. The Carolina mantis' color varies because the nymphs are able to adjust their color to match the environment they are in at the time of molting. Instead of undergoing a complete metamorphosis, praying mantises molt and grow to an adult. They can adjust their color over each molt, if necessary, until they reach their final molt to adulthood.

An unusual trait is that its wings only extend three-quarters of the way down the abdomen in mature females; this trait is also seen in Iris oratoria, which can be distinguished by the large eyespots on the hind wings (inner wings) of both adult male and female Iris oratoria.<ref name="sex" /> Both adult male and female Stagmomantis carolina have a dark-coloured dot on each of their forewings (outer wings), which may be partially hidden in a brown or dark colour morph individual.

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  Female mating with a half-eaten male
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  Ootheca
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  1st instar nymph

Distribution and habitat

Stagmomantis carolina is native to the Americas and can be found from the United States southwards to Brazil.<ref name="mantodea.speciesfile.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Template:Cite web
• Stabheuschrecken und Gottesanbeterinnen im Terrarium
• Sexual cannibalism, mate choice, and sperm competition in praying mantids
• Bugguide.net Species Stagmomantis carolina - Carolina Mantis
• David Edwin Hill: Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) feeding on tettigonid cricket — Video
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