Post by trehopr1 on Jul 31, 2020 20:17:57 GMT
I can always find something to talk about insect related. It's such a HUGE science ! Just looking thru my collection I can pick out something, think about it a moment, and have something to say about it. Of coarse, a quick consultation of my library helps bolster my thoughts. So, todays brief topic is Mantids... Those noble looking, patient, well camouflaged, apex predators of the insect world.
The order Mantodea contains at present over 2400 species in about 430 genera in 15 families. Its largest family is the Mantidae. Mantids are distributed worldwide in temperate and especially tropical habitats.
In my little piece of the world here in the Great lakes states region we have at least 3 species which I am aware of and have encountered. Two of the species are accidentally introduced ones which arrived here from both Europe and Asia around the turn of the last century.
Below, I present a specimen of the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) female.
This marvelous large species is completely green throughout in life. You can hold one in your open hand and it will fill it at being 5 to 5(1/2) inches in length. These benign fascinating creatures can make a "curious" pet of sorts for a time...
Of curious note is that despite being an introduced species (1899/nursery stock from So. Europe); it is the official state insect of Connecticut !
My example here has managed to hold most of its natural color pretty well for a preserved specimen... I tend to see this one far less often than the next one.
Below, I present our other large visitor from elsewhere -- the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) female in flight...
This species which is native to Asia and the nearby islands comes in slightly larger at 6 inches or so with females. In 1896 this species was accidentally introduced via a nursery person at Mt. Airy near Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I have encountered this species quite a bit more often than the previous one. It is mostly a light brown or tan in color with only the costal margin of the forewings being green.
I really only find these creatures about mid-September; for a period of about 2 weeks. Usually I spy them sitting under the occasional streetlight or parking lot lights. Have kept at least 3 or 4 alive as pets but, they usually expire by mid-November after having lived a full life of about 4 months.
So, hope you have enjoyed my brief discussion today on the Mantids which I most commonly encounter in my area. I have only kept 6 or 7 as specimens (those which have preserved their colors and condition the best); otherwise I just enjoy them for being the magnificent and fascinating creatures that they are...
The order Mantodea contains at present over 2400 species in about 430 genera in 15 families. Its largest family is the Mantidae. Mantids are distributed worldwide in temperate and especially tropical habitats.
In my little piece of the world here in the Great lakes states region we have at least 3 species which I am aware of and have encountered. Two of the species are accidentally introduced ones which arrived here from both Europe and Asia around the turn of the last century.
Below, I present a specimen of the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) female.
This marvelous large species is completely green throughout in life. You can hold one in your open hand and it will fill it at being 5 to 5(1/2) inches in length. These benign fascinating creatures can make a "curious" pet of sorts for a time...
Of curious note is that despite being an introduced species (1899/nursery stock from So. Europe); it is the official state insect of Connecticut !
My example here has managed to hold most of its natural color pretty well for a preserved specimen... I tend to see this one far less often than the next one.
Below, I present our other large visitor from elsewhere -- the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) female in flight...
This species which is native to Asia and the nearby islands comes in slightly larger at 6 inches or so with females. In 1896 this species was accidentally introduced via a nursery person at Mt. Airy near Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I have encountered this species quite a bit more often than the previous one. It is mostly a light brown or tan in color with only the costal margin of the forewings being green.
I really only find these creatures about mid-September; for a period of about 2 weeks. Usually I spy them sitting under the occasional streetlight or parking lot lights. Have kept at least 3 or 4 alive as pets but, they usually expire by mid-November after having lived a full life of about 4 months.
So, hope you have enjoyed my brief discussion today on the Mantids which I most commonly encounter in my area. I have only kept 6 or 7 as specimens (those which have preserved their colors and condition the best); otherwise I just enjoy them for being the magnificent and fascinating creatures that they are...
