What type of mantis is this?

[Nicolas]

It's unusually aggressive compared to the other mantids I catch in my area, and I think it may be female?

 

[Rick]

Going to need a much better picture.

 

[jrh3]

it looks mis molted, is the back bent or just the pic?

 

[MantidLord]

By your location, it looks like Iris oratoria. But a better picture would confirm.

 

[BugLover]

it looks mis molted, is the back bent or just the pic?

I think it is just cleaning it's foot

 

[Nicolas]

Yeah It was grooming itself. I will try to take a better pic, the little guy is just so dang small!

 

[agent A]

I think its stagmomantis limbata

 

[Nicolas]

I hope it is, its either a iris or stag

 

[MantidLord]

I think its stagmomantis limbata

Personally, I've never found them in Las Vegas in the 10+ years I was there. I say Iris.

 

[Nicolas]

I have found another outside. It's like two or three molts older then the first pic. Here it is.

 

[agent A]

I still say limbata

 

[ismart]

100% Iris oratoria.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I know, I know, a baby mantis! :tt2:

 

[Nicolas]

I've read somewhere that Iris have an orangeish spot under their abdomen, this mantis doesn't.. and the head's shaped differently.

 

[MantidLord]

Sometimes it takes a couple of instars to see the orangish dot. With a brown mantis like that, it may be a tan dot. I'll say it agaaaiiin, Iris oratoria.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Post another picture when it molts to adult, if you plan on keeping it in captivity until then. Adult mantids and oothecas are more significant species determiners and have more distinct differences from other mantids.