Keep an eye peeled in the spring, because you're liable to see some tiny praying mantids!

June 15, 2020

Keep an eye peeled in the spring, because you're liable to see some tiny praying mantids!

This mantid is probably a Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina), according to VMNH Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Dr. Kal Ivanov. This species is fairly common and can be found throughout much of North America, Central America, and South America.

It's often difficult to identify the Carolina mantis by color alone, because this species can vary from brown to green to gray. When the juveniles molt (shed their old exoskeleton), they adjust their color to better match their surroundings and blend into their environment!

If you find a mantid in your garden, you're in luck. These guys are voracious predators and are a fantastic ally, because they'll eat a ton of garden pests. You can even purchase Carolina mantis ootheca (egg cases) to release baby mantids into your garden. Just be sure you don't buy the ootheca of the Chinese mantis; while that species is also a great garden predator, it's an invasive species.

This post brought to you by VMNH Corporate Supporter Everything Outdoors, LLC.

ABOUT THIS POST
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.

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