Arizona Preying Mantis
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| Arizona Preying Mantis (Mantodea) |
Three distinct body regions: head, thorax (where the legs and wings are attached), abdomen.
Part of the thorax is elongated to create a distinctive 'neck'.
Front legs modified as raptorial graspers with strong spikes for grabbing and holding prey.
Large compound eyes on the head which moves freely around (up to 180°) and three simple eyes between the compound eyes.
Incomplete or simple metamorphosis (hemimetabolous).
Adult Males and Females
Females usually have heavier abdomen and are larger than males. |
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History:
The compound eyes are capable of seeing images and colors. The three simple eyes perhaps tell the differences between light and dark.. The simple eyes are arranged in a triangle between the antennae. Compound eyes are made up of hundreds of facets constructed with two lenses. These focus the light down a light sensitive structures (rhabdome) which is connected to the optic nerve.
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Life Span:
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Size:
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Weight:
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Food:
Mantids are active predators and consume other insects. Praying mantids are highly predacious and feed on a variety of insects, including moths, crickets, grasshoppers and flies. They lie in wait with the front legs in an upraised position. They intently watch and stalk their prey. They will eat each other. |
Habitat:
Praying mantids are often protectively colored to the plants they live on. This camouflage facilitates their predaceous behavior. Mantids are usually found on plants that have other insects around. Some mantids live in grass. Winged adults may be attracted to black lights in late summer and early fall. |
Range:
Praying mantids and /or their egg cases are very difficult to locate by just looking at plants because of their camouflage. To find adults, look on flowering plants and at porch lights in August through late September. Adult males will often fly to porch lights in the late fall. Home vegetable and flower gardens that are organic or where no insecticides have been used may be a good place to look. |
Reproduction:
200 or more nymphs may emerge from the egg case |
Population:
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Hunting Information:
Non Game Animal
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