Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Stagmomantis californica - California Mantis

Stagmomantis californica - female unkn mantid - Stagmomantis californica California Mantis - Stagmomantis californica - female Mantis ID help please - Stagmomantis californica - male Chinese Mantid? - Stagmomantis californica Stagmomantis californica - male Praying Mantis 'Ootheca' - Stagmomantis californica Male, Bordered Mantis? - Stagmomantis californica - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Mantodea (Mantids)
Family Mantidae
Genus Stagmomantis
Species californica (California Mantis)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
treated as junior syn. of Stagmomantis wheelerii Thomas 1875 in (1) [also note here]; however, S. wheelerii is treated as a junior syn. of S. carolina in (2)
Explanation of Names
Stagmomantis californica Rehn & Hebard 1909
Size
50-65 mm (body)
Identification
Green, yellow, brown color phases. Male abdomen has bold dark bands on top. Hind wings mottled to nearly completely suffused with dark brown to near black, with base purplish. Body form similar to other members of its genus. S. limbata may co-occur and difficult to separate without looking at wings or abdomen of male. S. californica is very slightly smaller and more slender, on average.
Range
Texas, Colorado to so. California (arid regions, north into Central Valley)
Habitat
Chaparral, deserts. Largely arboreal, or at least climbing on bushes. Generally favors drier areas than related species that might co-occur. (Often found with S. limbata which is difficult to separate)
Season
Overwinter as eggs; hatch in spring and summer; adults mostly summer and autumn. Females in particular may survive well into winter.
Remarks
Males often come to lights, females more sedentary
Print References
(3)
Works Cited
1.Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada
Kris Anderson. 2018. Independently published.
2.Otte D., Spearman L., Stiewe M.B.D. Mantodea species file online. Version 5.0
3.California Insects
Jerry A. Powell, Charles L. Hogue. 1989. University of California Press.