In October I released the first issue of my webzine, the Mantid Research Report (You can download the .PDF HERE: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B8WIZ2MbNsuMNjE5N2Y4ODEtYmYyOS00ZTIxLTgyN2ItZGMwMjM0NWEwZjE0&hl=en_US&pli=1). I will be releasing the second issue pretty soon. Here, I present to you, a sneak peak:
Thesprotia graminis
Thesprotia graminis
A quite nice species to keep as a pet. They don’t move around much but are still very entertaining. They will often “strike a pose” which is awesome for those who are interested in photography. Thesprotia graminis is a VERY fast growing species. Another good thing about them is the fact that a single female can lay many oothecae before dying. Some reported cases are as high as 20 ooths. This species is becoming one of my favorites. I suggest them to any mantid enthusiast
Color-
Green or brown. Often speckled.
Size-
Males are 45-55mm and females are 50-70mm.
Behavior-
Males have a pair of long wings and can fly exceptionally. They are attracted to lights at night and will often fly to them. Females cannot fly as they are wingless. These mantids tend to extend their raptorial legs forward as straight as possible to resemble a twig or piece of thin grass. A shot of such behavior can be seen in the picture to the left.
Found In-
Often found walking on flat surfaces in places surrounded with lots of tall grass, as well as around the bottom of tree trunks in clusters of grass. Only found in the extreme southeast. Places such as Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, etc. Also found in Mexico. According to Bugguide.net the US records list:
