Carolina Mantid, Praying Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

Order: Dictyoptera (dik-tee-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Mantidae Genus: Stagmomantis Species: carolina Profile: 4 positives 1 neutral 1 negative Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Tolleson, Arizona Deer, Arkansas Marion, Arkansas North Little Rock, Arkansas Sheridan, Arkansas Fresno, California Temecula, California Bear, Delaware Atlantic Beach, Florida Palm Coast, Florida Davis Junction, Illinois Nilwood, Illinois Greenville, Indiana Jeffersonville, Indiana Des Moines, Iowa Benton, Kentucky Ewing, Kentucky Houma, Louisiana La Place, Louisiana Brockton, Massachusetts Cole Camp, Missouri Maplewood, New Jersey Toms River, New Jersey Croton On Hudson, New York Clayton, North Carolina Durham, North Carolina Goldsboro, North Carolina Henderson, North Carolina Zebulon, North Carolina Bucyrus, Ohio Mentor, Ohio Alexandria, Pennsylvania Emmaus, Pennsylvania Summerville, South Carolina Fort Worth, Texas San Antonio, Texas (2 reports) Danville, Virginia Kalama, Washington Olympia, Washington Tenino, Washington Liberty, West Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive Sarahskeeper On Jul 30, 2006, Sarahskeeper from Brockton, MA (Zone 6a) wrote: They are fun to watch, they sway when they walk. They will eat almost any bug good or bad, even their siblings. Positive melody On Aug 8, 2006, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: Adults can grow to nearly 3"long and are great predators, eating almost any insect it can catch. They have lightning fast reflexes, and can strike twice before it's prey has time to escape. One way to tell if your mantis is a Carolina Mantid is that the wings are shorter than the abdomen and do not extend beyond the tip. Found in meadows, shrubbery and gardens, this voracious hunter will eat any insect...even it's own mate. Positive joegee On Jun 25, 2007, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: This is one of my favorite creatures. I have observed them in the wild in all phases of their development. I love finding a gravid female in the fall. I leave her alone and let her leave her egg case, hopefully somewhere on my bushes. Except for the lack of developed wings the babies are perfect little miniatures of the adults (nymphs). As a child I used to bring found cocoons into the house, but when I realized that I could not keep the babies alive I decided it was better to let them stay outside where they could develop normally. I have learned through the years that the best way to handle these insects is to leave them alone. If a juvenile mantid must be moved for some reason I find it easiest to encourage the little beastie to climb on my hand or arm with the touch of a guiding finger. Adults can be similarly persuaded. If you try to hold on to a mantid by grasping its thorax you're likely to get a painful pinch, and possibly even a small bite. You get what you deserve. :) These, and lady bugs are some of the best allies a gardener can have. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone, and they can even provide some fascinating (and dramatic) viewing. Positive purpledatura On Jul 24, 2007, purpledatura from Painesville, OH wrote: absolutely educational and fascinating bug. great for your garden too. its just too bad i see them so rarely around these parts. my garden could sure use a few to eat up the nasty ones i have hanging around! Negative 22miracles On Nov 8, 2007, 22miracles from Olympia, WA (Zone 8a) wrote: These seem to be rapidly producing at my sister's home. The egg encasements and the adult praying manthis are all over her fences and side of her unpainted barn. They particularly like a stack of windows against her barn. After googling, I will not want them at my home. They eat all insects--including butterflies and bees and even a hummingbird! When I contacted a person selling them on eBay, he said they were meant for vegetable gardens. Please realize that they will spread to nearby gardens where they may not be welcomed. I think they should be listed as a nusiance and dangerous pest! Please Google before you import them! Neutral nanaluvsflwrs On Apr 15, 2008, nanaluvsflwrs from Rogers, AR wrote: I have always wondered if there's a way to attract them to my garden. I have seen a few offers in seed catalogs and have been tempted to try ordering them but they are a bit pricy. If anyone knows about this, I'd love to hear.

By indiana_lily By Sarahskeeper By Sarahskeeper By Magpye By melody By mygardens By kropit There are a total of 22 photos. Click here to view them all!