Mantodea+of+North+America

=European Mantis (Mantis religiosa)= Fig 1: Adult female //Mantis religiosa// perched atop a piece of wood.


 * Taxonomy**
 * Kingdom: //Animalia//
 * Phylum: //Arthropoda//
 * Class: //Insecta//
 * Order: //Mantodea//
 * Family: //Mantidae//
 * Genus: //Mantis//
 * Species: //M. religiosa//

(1)(2)
 * Adult Size: ** 1.2 cm - 15 cm in length
 * Identifying Colors: ** cryptic coloration to blend with environment

The name Mantodea is derived from mantis, the greek name for these insects. There are over 2,400 species nested within the order. Despite the overall diversity of the order in which it is nested, // M. religiosa // is one of only twenty species of praying mantis found in North America. The mantis is classified within the // m //// antidae // family, a family that includes all of the common North American Mantids.

**Description** The mantis is typically several centimeters long and very well camouflaged to its environment. Adults exhibit filiform antennae, triangular heads with well developed compound eyes, thickened front wings and short, multi-segmented cerci (1). Immature mantes are characterized as having visibly developing wingpads on their thoraxes and being structurally similar to adults. First stage nymphs are known to exhibit Batesian mimicry of more harmful orders of Hemiptera such as the foul-tasting Hemiptera family //Reduviidae// ( 1 )(2).

Members of the order //Mantodea// are especially difficult to spot due to both their exceptional camouflage and the motionless stance they assume upon sensing danger. Once you do find one, however, it is easy to distinguish between //M. religiosa// and other species due to the distinctive black bullseye patterns that occur on the inside of the fore leg of the species ([|3]).

The insects are common in tropical and subtropical climates but can also be found in cooler temperate climates ([|3]). Mantids are unique among insects due to their ability to turn their heads from side to side. Mantids are also known for their ability to blend in to their environment due to their cryptic coloration.
 * Life History/Behavior**

Mantes lay eggs in hardened foam oothecas, or egg cases, which they attach to a tree or leaf and allow to hatch in the early months of spring. The females lay about 100 eggs at a time. The freshly hatched juvenile mantes resemble smaller versions of adult mantes. Once hatched, the young mantis either get dispersed by the wind or are eaten by their mother or their siblings (1)([|3]).

Mantes are, for the most part, exclusively predatory insects. They are especially good predators due to their camouflage: //Hymenopus//// coronatus //, for example, is a light-pink colored species of Mantis that can be found hunting species of Lepidoptera in pink orchid flowers. Mantids do not limit themselves to preying on insects, however. The insects have been known to capture and devour reptiles and even small birds (4). Figure 2: //M. religiosa// and its prey, a hummingbird.
 * Predators and Prey**

Sexual cannibalism is a trademark of the species //M. religiosa//--it is necessary for the female to eat her mate while the two insects are still in the act of copulating in order for mating to be totally completed. This type of behavior is not common to all mantes. To the contrary, cannibalistic behavior is only exhibited in 5 - 31% of the time in all species of Mantodea (4).

//Mantis religiosa// is completely harmless to humans despite being a fierce predator ([|3]). The species can in fact act as an important biological control by eating harmful parasitic insects such as aphids and grasshoppers. Establishing a population of the mantes in a garden is an eco-friendly way to reduce populations of mosquitos, moths, aphids, and other insects that could have a negative impact on the garden's productivity. Mantes numbers can be increased by providing the insects with commercially available egg cases in which to lay their eggs (5).
 * Ecological Importance and Human Impact**

Created by Stuart, M.

1. Meyer, John. "[Mantodea] Classification & Distribution." General Entomology NC State University. Dr. John Meyer, 8 Apr. 2009. Web. 1 Nov. 2013 <@http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/compendium/mantodea.html>.
 * Resources**

2. "Praying Mantis (Mantis Religiosa)." Animals.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. .

3. Campbell, Dana. "Mantis Religiosa Overview." Encyclopedia of Life. Eol.org, 13 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <@http://eol.org/pages/487055/details>.

4. Doughty, Michele. "The Female Praying Mantis: Sexual Predator or Misunderstood." Web log post. Serendip Studio. Serendip Studio, 9 Jan. 2008. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. <@http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1801>.

5. Sherman, Barbara. "Praying Mantises: Biological Pest Control?" Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group LLC, 29 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <@http://www.examiner.com/article/praying-mantises-biological-pest-control>

Fig 1: "Praying Mantis." Zoo Empire: Mantis. Zoo Empire, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. <@http://www.examiner.com/article/praying-mantises-biological-pest-control>.
 * Images **

Fig 2: Walkup, Richard L. "Praying Mantis Makes Meal of a Hummer." Hummingbirds: Hummingbird Behavior. Bird Watcher's Digest Magazine. n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2013. <@http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.php?sc=migrate>