Carolina Mantis

Description:

The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is a species of praying mantis. Adult females are 47 to 60 millimeters in length while adult males are usually about 54 millimeters in length. 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. 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.

Habitat:

Stagmomantis carolina is native to South America, Central America and North America. This one was photographed at night on my back porch, which is adjacent to a hardwood forest in Edgefield County, SC.

Notes:

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 itsel