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Stagmomantis carolina |
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| Carolina mantis | ||||||||||||||
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 Carolina mantis in praying position
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| Stagmomantis carolina Johannson, 1763 |
The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is a praying mantis native to the Southern United States and one of six species found in North America. It grows to approximately 2.5 in (64 mm) in length.
The Carolina mantis has a dusty brown, gray, or green color useful as camouflage in certain environments. An unusual trait is that its wings only extend three quarters of the way down the abdomen in mature females, seen also in Iris oratoria, which can be distinguished by the "eyespots" on its wings.
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 itself.
Carolina mantis oothecae can be purchased in garden supply centers as a means of biological control of pest insects. It is the state insect of South Carolina.
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