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Project Noah Nature School
Family Mantidae
As in related insect groups, mantises go through three stages of metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult (mantises are among the hemimetabolic insects). The nymph and adult insect are structurally quite similar, except that the nymph is smaller and has no wings or functional genitalia. The nymphs are also sometimes colored differently from the adult, and the early stages are often mimics of ants. A mantis nymph increases in size (often changing its diet as it does so) by replacing its outer body covering with a sturdy, flexible exoskeleton and molting when needed. Molting can happen from five to ten times, depending on the species. After the final molt most species have wings, though some species are wingless or brachypterous ("short-winged"), particularly in the female sex. Source: Wikipedia.
Spotted on a bromeliad leaf, in the backyard.
Related spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/159....
Spotted on Oct 13, 2012
Submitted on Oct 27, 2012
1 Comment
Nice.