Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
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
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Mantids (Mantodea) » Mantoididae » Mantoida » Little Yucatan Mantid (Mantoida maya)
Photo#4436
Little Yucatan Mantid - Mantoida maya
Copyright © 2004 Tony DiTerlizzi

Little Yucatan Mantid - Mantoida maya
Hobe Sound, Martin County, Florida, USA
June 27, 2004
Shot at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

I actually thought this was a large ant when I first saw it scurrying across the hiking path. I was totally surprised to find it was a juvenile Mantis!

I've seen a lot of Mantises down here in Florida, but never one like this. I know juveniles can have different patterning than adults. But to see this one on the ground (as opposed to on plants) has me baffled.

I wonder if the markings are meant to imitate another species? I've seen the white antennea banding on ichneumons and sawflies before.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 28 June, 2004 - 4:47pm
Last updated 21 July, 2017 - 8:50pm

Gimme a mantis hold the maya!
Gimme a mantis hold the maya! I love learning about new mantises. If you like this guy check out the mantidfly!
… Earthboundedmantis, 29 November, 2015 - 12:16am login or register to post comments

Is that what my bug is?
Is that what my bug is?
… Brandie Mills, 26 October, 2011 - 4:16am login or register to post comments

Gosh, these things are so cut
Gosh, these things are so cute and alien- looking. Beautiful picture!
… J. Anderson, 27 October, 2010 - 2:42pm login or register to post comments

Actually
They are supposed to mimic sawflies when they reach adulthood.
… Ryanthebuglover, 1 August, 2008 - 11:03am login or register to post comments

Mantoididae
Genus Mantoida belongs to family Mantoididae, not family Mantidae. I have gone ahead and moved it to the correct family.
… Richard Leung, 9 March, 2005 - 8:45pm login or register to post comments

Maybe Mantoida maya?
I'm intrigued by this one so I spent some time investigating. I posted a few links that might be useful for identifying mantids in the future.

I'm purely speculating that this might be an immature Mantoida maya. There's an illustration of this species at the Tree of Life.

I've emailed someone who researches them to see if he can confirm.
… Troy Bartlett, 28 June, 2004 - 8:34pm login or register to post comments

 
Confirmed
Here's what Mark Deyrup had to say:

What a fantastic photo! These are very speedy insects, and it must have been difficult to get this photo. It is indeed a young Mantoida maya, the last instar before becoming an adult. There is a guy in Germany who is doing research on this species; he says that it is a surprisingly primitive species. He is planning a special trip to Florida to look for this species next year.
… Troy Bartlett, 30 June, 2004 - 3:41pm login or register to post comments

 
WOW!
This is such cool news! I got quite a few shots of it, so I'll have to post more (and perhaps another trip to Jonathan Dickinson is in order...)

I also got shots of the Grass Mantis (which are fairly common down here, I'll post them as soon as I get a chance), and I am still searching for the Lichen Mantis (well, that's what we called it). I would see them from time to time, but they are tough ones to spot.
… Tony DiTerlizzi, 30 June, 2004 - 4:18pm login or register to post comments

 
Check this link
The observations match yours, and the illustration also matches:
Florida Entomologist 69(2), Observations on Mantioda maya

You've made quite a great find!
… Troy Bartlett, 28 June, 2004 - 8:40pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact