Identification
The juvenile form of this species mimics ants and wingless ichneumon wasps. The head and thorax are red with a black abdomen. The pronotum is square-shaped and is almost as long as it is wide. The abdomen is generally oval with white bands on the first 2 abdominal tergites. There are also white bands on the antennea which are waved in a manner similar to ichneumonids.
Range
Native in Florida and Mexico
Habitat
Ground litter in hammocks and thickets of dense scrub
Food
Like all mantids, M. maya feeds on other insects that it catches.
Life Cycle
Most likely one generation a year. As with most mantids eggs probably overwinter and hatch in the spring, adults reach maturity by late summer or early fall.
Internet References
Archbold Biological Station - Mark Deyrup's observations on Mantoida maya helped us identify it, and there is a pdf file with his findings
University of Florida's Entomology Dept. - has a downloadable pdf key to Florida mantids
Tree of Life - lists other Mantoida species and has an image of an adult
Herper.com - lists mantid species found in the U.S. and includes a list by state
Contributed by
Tony DiTerlizzi on 14 July, 2004 - 8:10am
Additional contributions by
cotinisLast updated 2 December, 2006 - 8:25pm
