Template:Short description Template:More footnotes Template:Speciesbox
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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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.
DescriptionEdit
Adult females are Template:Convert in length while adult males are usually about Template:Convert in length.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=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. 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.
- Carolina Mantis, Gainesville, FL, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 51750963.jpg
Female mating with a half-eaten male
- Stagmomantis carolina ootheca.jpg
Ootheca
- Carolina mantis 1st instar.jpg
1st instar nymph
.jpg){kind=link}
Distribution and habitatEdit
Stagmomantis carolina is native to the Americas and can be found from the United States southwards to Brazil.<ref name="mantodea.speciesfile.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReferencesEdit
<references />
External linksEdit
- Template:Commons category-inline
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=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
- Template:EOL