What are the differences in the different stagmomantis'?

[Rick]

Just wondering. I am very familiar with s. carolina but not so much the other two. How do you tell them apart?

 

[Orin]

S. floridensis has really short tegmina and wings, S.limbata female has yellow wings (not tegmina) etc.

 

[Orin]

Brown purple and yellow hind wing on S.californica female

 

[Hypoponera]

Rick,

The species are actually easy to tell apart when they are side by side. I posted some info out of an old key here:

http://mantidforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php...hlight=bordered

PM me you email addy and I will scan and email you the actual key. It covers all the native and adventive mantids in the USA. That includes 5 species of Stegmomantis; S. floridensis, S. carolina, S. limbata, S. californica, and S. gracilipes.

 

[yen_saw]

THere is a good link with keys for identifying local species performed by Florida University. It has however only keys for S. Carolina and S. Floridensis. But also many good keys for local species you could use in your coming bug show Rick.

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/mantid_key1_03.pdf

Larger (58mm or more); form more elongate, abdomen of female nearly parallel-sided, tegmina narrower, reaching only middle of abdomen; stigmatic patch pale, inconspicuous, or obsolete = Stagmomantis floridensis Davis

Smaller (57mm or less); form less elongate, abdomen of female strongly widened at middle, tegmina broad, reaching apical third of abdomen; stigmatic patch black, conspicuous (cover photo) = Stagmomantis carolina (Johannson)

 

[OGIGA]

I thought you would answer your question for us, Rick!

 

[Rick]

I thought you would answer your question for us, Rick!

I have either the californica or the limbata but want to make sure it's right for the show.