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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mantids (Mantodea) » Thespidae » Bistanta » Bistanta mexicana

Species Bistanta mexicana

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

Slim Mexican Mantis (Oligonicella mexicana) - Bistanta mexicana - male

This mantis was much smaller than the Unicorns - Bistanta mexicana - male

Male, Bactromantis mexicana? - Bistanta mexicana - male

Unidentified Mantis - Bistanta mexicana - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Mantodea (Mantids)

Family Thespidae

Genus Bistanta

Species mexicana (Bistanta mexicana)

Other Common Names

Slim Mexican Mantis (1)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Bistanta mexicana (Saussure & Zehntner, 1894); synonyms and taxonomic notes:

Bactromantis mexicana (Saussure & Zehntner, 1894)

Oligonyx mexicana Saussure & Zehntner, 1894. described from Mexico

Oligonyx toltecus Saussure & Zehntner, 1894. described from Chilpancingo 1500m, Guerrero, Mexico

Oligonicella mexicana (S. & Z.) Hebard, 1922

Bactromantis mexicana (S. & Z.) Giglio-Tos, 1927

Size

32-45 mm (1)

Identification

Slender; small conical projections or "bumps" above each eye (not always easily seen, depending on perspective); front tibiae very short; pronotum with portion behind attachment of front legs about twice the length of portion in front (proportions may be distorted in photos, also due to perspective).

Thesprotia & Oligonicella are most similar, differing in proportions of pronotum. Oligonicella is stockier with front and back of pronotum about equal. Thesprotia is very slender and has the rear portion of the pronotum about three to four times longer than the front portion.

Helfer (1) notes that front femur is very slender and that the female is wingless.

Range

AZ, s. TX to LA / Mex. - Map (2)

Habitat

Found on flowers; comes to lights (1).

See Also

Oligonicella

Thesprotia

Print References

Anderson, K. (2018) Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada. Independently published. 291 pages (3)

Helfer, J.R. (1962) How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies. Wm. C. Brown Company, p. 30, fig. 44 (1)

Works Cited

1.	How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies Jacques R. Helfer. 1962. Wm. C. Brown Company.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

3.	Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada Kris Anderson. 2018. Independently published.

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 29 June, 2008 - 12:40am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Mike Quinn, David Ferguson
Last updated 24 July, 2023 - 3:59pm

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