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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mantids (Mantodea) » Thespidae » Thesprotia » Grass-like Mantid (Thesprotia graminis)

Species Thesprotia graminis - Grass-like Mantid

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Grasslike Mantid - Thesprotia graminis - female Grass-like Mantid - Thesprotia graminis - female Grass-like Mantid - Thesprotia graminis - male Thesprotia graminis Thesprotia graminis (Grass-like Mantid) - Thesprotia graminis - male bug - Thesprotia graminis Mantid - Thesprotia graminis - female Grass-like Mantid - Thesprotia graminis
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Mantodea (Mantids)
Family Thespidae
Genus Thesprotia
Species graminis (Grass-like Mantid)
Other Common Names
Grass-like Mantis
Grass Mantid
Grass Mantis
Walkingstick Mantis
Walkingstick Mantid
Explanation of Names
graminis is Latin for "of grass"
Size
Males are smaller at 55 mm; females can get as large as 70 mm. Helfer (1) gives range of 47-56 mm for species.
Identification
A long, slender mantis that is often confused with a walkingstick, especially when it moves with its forearms outstretched. Males have long wings and are good fliers. Females are wingless and resemble a pine needle (1).

Helfer (1) notes in a key to similar genera of mantids that the hind portion of the pronotum is 3-4 times as long as the front portion. This distinguishes it from Oligonicella species, whose hind portion is less than 3 times as long as the front portion.
Range
Southern U.S. and Mexico
Habitat
Grass, flowers, and shrubs. Sometimes attracted to lights at night.
Season
Mantids are most commonly seen in late summer and early fall.
Food
Like all other mantids, T. graminis feeds on other insects that it catches.
Life Cycle
Eggs overwinter and hatch in early spring. Adults are mature by late summer and usually die by winter.
Print References
Helfer, p. 29, fig. 43 (1)
"Florida's Fabulous Insects", pages 42-43 (2)
Internet References
University of Florida Entomology Dept. PDF key to Florida mantids by P.M. Choate
Herper.com list of mantid species in the U.S., with breakdown of species by state
Works Cited
1.How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies
By Jacques R. Helfer
2.Florida's Fabulous Insects
By Mark Deyrup, Brian Kenney, Thomas C. Emmel
Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 14 July, 2004 - 8:43am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz
Last updated 17 August, 2007 - 9:00am

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