Carolina Mantis

Source: http://bit.ly/1QZOIsr Photographer: Kaldari Public Domain Image

Carolina Mantis Fact

• Firstly, the Carolina Mantis ranks as such an efficient hunter that it often gets sold as a form of biological control agent.
• Secondly, this particular invertebrate evolved as a particularly voracious predator, even among related species.
• As a consequence of its extreme appetite, individuals of this species routinely consume great numbers of small insects.
• Even among other mantises, this astounding creature stands out for its rather insatiable appetite.
• Additionally, this form of mantis will not hesitate to engage in cannibalism at any time if no other prey is unavailable.

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Carolina Mantis Physical Description

For all its aggressiveness, the Carolina Mantis nevertheless remains an average sized species of mantis.

Due to this rather surprising fact most individuals typically attain an average adult length of only about 2.4 in (6 cm).

The coloring also varies by individual but generally will consist of combinations of green, gray, or tan.

Further, the Carolina Mantis has the ability to adjust its colors at will as nymphs, to provide the best possible camouflage for the particular environment.

This fascinating insect does not display any particular degree of sexual dimorphism.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Mantodea

Family: Mantidae

Genus: Stagmomantis

Species: S. carolina

Carolina Mantis Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

This species inhabits a rather wide range of habitats throughout North America, Central America, and South America.

It also remains a master of adaptive camouflage, blending in easily with its particular habitat, which varies widely.

Its amazing adeptness at this ranks so high that sometimes its prey will actually land on them, mistaking it for part of the habitat.

Like many related creatures, the females do engage in sexual cannibalism, however, in about 25% of all matings.

Species Sharing Its Range

                               

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