Carolina Mantis found in the Garden

[cat_named_noodles]

At least I think this is a Carolina mantis.

 

[happy1892]

At least a Stagmomantis. S. limbata lives in the western part of Texas but I do not know for far east it goes. I would guess your mantis is a Carolina Mantis because of it's colors though maybe there are S. limbata male nymphs similar in color to this.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

I was guessing Carolina mantis because of the coloring as well, and because they're pretty common around here. We're in central Texas, halfway between Austin and San Antonio, so I don't know if S. limbata lives out here or not either. Perhaps we'll see this little guy again in the future. We let it go today after finding it on the car and feeding it a cricket and a moth.

 

[happy1892]

What type of mantids do you keep?

 

[cat_named_noodles]

I used to keep Creobroter pictipennis, and have kept local species off and on, and Chinese mantises, but not any more, as kids and college have sort of taken over my life! I would love to get some flowers again, or Hymenopus coronatus, or Odontomantis spp.

 

[mantisman 230]

Yup its a male carolina, judging by those wingbuds I would say it should be a subadult.

 

[happy1892]

Yup its a male carolina, judging by those wingbuds I would say it should be a subadult.

If it is a male S. carolina it is not a sub-adult.

 

[mantisman 230]

Most likely presub then.

 

[happy1892]

Actually now I am not certain if this probably male S. carolina is not sub-adult. Usually a sub-adult has larger wingbuds. If this is a male that has skipped a molt then maybe they have smaller wingbuds at sub-adult.

Sub-adult S. carolina male that molted today. (sorry for bad quality)