Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went out looking for ooths today, and I came across this little girl. When I first saw her, I thought it was a male european mantis. But then I saw the very short wings. There is no way it is a male either. She is pretty fat(I think she might lay an ooth pretty soon), has 5 segements on her abdomen, and is about 1 and 3/4 of an inch long. Im pretty sure she is a ground mantis(litaneutria minor), what do you guys think?

ok, ive looked at some more pics of litaneutria minor, and this doesnt seem to be the species I have. Anyone know what she is?

Looks like a carolina mantis to me.

Southwestern US? It's either a Stagmomantis or Iris. Check the pattern on the flying wings (under the tegmina)if there's a big eyespot its Iris.

Its definately an iris. She has the big black spot on the wing like you described.
Thanks for the help!

-Andrew

Forgot to say this in my last post, but I live in northern California. Nowhere in the southern US. Maybe thats why i've never seen this species before.

-Andrew

Glad you found out what it is. Sure looks like a carolina to me. I was not aware of your location since carolinas are found in many places.

Iris oratoria is also found in northern California. Congrats on the find, I don't think many people currently have/breed that species. I think(but I may be wrong) that Stagmomantis limbata or the "Bordered Mantis" lives as far north as Northern California, and may be what you think is Stagmomantis carolina (they look almost exactly the same).

How do I know if it is a limbata?
How many different species can be found in northern california?

Thanks,
Andrew

If it has the eyespots on the flying wings, it can only be Iris (in the United States).
Information on native and adventive mantids can be found in the mantis book here: http://www.elytraandantenna.com
The European and Chinese are found throughout most of the US.

Does your mantis have a little teardrop or oval-shaped marking on the underside of her abdomen?

None of my mantids have any markings on their abdomen. The mantis I found has marking you describe under the wing(big black spot), but not the abdomen.
Anyways, the mantis laid an ootheca. For some reason it just doesnt look too healthy. What do you guys think? Is it because the ooth is not fertile? There are a few little crickets running around in the cage, could they have munched on it?

Thanks,
Andrew

Wait, are you talking about under the wings? My carolina's have a beige teardrop on their abdomen under their wings.

-Andrew

I'm talking about the underside of the abdomen. You can see it in the picture. These were the first mantids I found as a child in my yard. (San Fernando Valley, CA) I hadn't seen any in decades, but I have found a small population of them in my local arboretum (Orange County, CA).

The females of this species are smaller than the carolinas, with a slimmer, more tapered shape to their abdomen. And both sexes have this spot under the abdomen. I've always wondered what variety this is, and whether it is the only one with this marking.

Nope, she doesnt have any markings on her abdomen.