Kris Anderson
Well-known member
Species treatment for Stagmomantis carolina (Linné, 1763) completed. ... finally!
This endemic species represents one of the most historically confounding taxonomic complexes among Mantodea. The multiple taxonomic permutations that this species has undergone over the past two centuries are staggering and have largely all been based upon variation within this species’ mosaic array of color forms. Since the first recorded specimen was sent to Carl Linné in 1763 from a collector in the New World colony of “Carolina,” there have been numerous examples of this species that were collected throughout the Americas and believed to be distinct based upon their color variation alone. Most of these names have now been synonymized, as it is now understood that S. carolina is an extremely variable species in both pigmentation and size characteristics with a wide distribution range over the western hemisphere.
A thorough review of the 250+ years worth of literature was conducted across each of the presented synonyms. Several hundred specimens were examined to provide a highly detailed re-description of the various color phases that this dynamic species represents. Additionally, the life history was assessed many times over multiple generations of different populations throughout the country. Many interesting aspects of this species' mating cycle have now been documented. Both sexes may mate multiple times with the same partner or with different conspecifics. Rarely, males will mount other males but no attempts at copulation have been observed. Males have also been noted to mount immature females and demonstrate no impairment in mating behavior with their antennae removed, suggesting that visual cues alone, not necessarily pheromones, are highly influential toward locating females.
“Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada”
https://www.researchgate.net/project/Praying-Mantises-of-the-United-States-and-Canada
This endemic species represents one of the most historically confounding taxonomic complexes among Mantodea. The multiple taxonomic permutations that this species has undergone over the past two centuries are staggering and have largely all been based upon variation within this species’ mosaic array of color forms. Since the first recorded specimen was sent to Carl Linné in 1763 from a collector in the New World colony of “Carolina,” there have been numerous examples of this species that were collected throughout the Americas and believed to be distinct based upon their color variation alone. Most of these names have now been synonymized, as it is now understood that S. carolina is an extremely variable species in both pigmentation and size characteristics with a wide distribution range over the western hemisphere.
A thorough review of the 250+ years worth of literature was conducted across each of the presented synonyms. Several hundred specimens were examined to provide a highly detailed re-description of the various color phases that this dynamic species represents. Additionally, the life history was assessed many times over multiple generations of different populations throughout the country. Many interesting aspects of this species' mating cycle have now been documented. Both sexes may mate multiple times with the same partner or with different conspecifics. Rarely, males will mount other males but no attempts at copulation have been observed. Males have also been noted to mount immature females and demonstrate no impairment in mating behavior with their antennae removed, suggesting that visual cues alone, not necessarily pheromones, are highly influential toward locating females.
“Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada”
https://www.researchgate.net/project/Praying-Mantises-of-the-United-States-and-Canada
