Northern Grass Mantis (Brunneria borealis), sometimes called Brunner’s Mantis, get their name from the grasslands, small trees, and tall grass areas they inhabit and naturally camouflage easily. They are found in the southern states of the U.S. Their ootheca is unusual in that the nymphs emerge from a single opening on one end. The nymphs hatch one at a time over a period of months. They usually are green but can have streaks of brown to gray and have a thin stick-like body that is about 2-1/2 to 3-1/2” long. The species found here in the U.S., named in 1986, are exclusively female, not requiring males for reproduction. The U.S. Northern Grass Mantis is one of the only mantis species where all mantis are female and reproduce through parthenogenesis where a genetically similar female (nearly an exact DNA clone of the mother) is then produced. Interestingly, the same species that is native to South America are both male and female with females mating with males in order to reproduce. Researchers from Washington and Lee Universities suggest that a single female instigated the entire U.S. population of Northern Grass Mantids. They also speculate that no males but only a female, or females, were introduced into the U.S. around the 1940s, possibly by boat or hurricane. They lay their eggs in fall to overwinter until the next summer. They have wings but cannot fly. They are ambush predators, active from September to October in grassy areas They much prefer bluestem to other grasses and are most active at night, climbing higher when disturbed. They feed often on grasshoppers and also eat grass phasmatodea (insects in the stick insect/bug families). Their main predators are birds.
Obscure ground mantis (Litaneutria ocularis), also called Agile Ground Mantids, are rare mantids in semi-arid areas and grassy, rocky, or gravelly areas with dry vegetation. These mantids are native to Mexico and the Southwestern U.S., found in southern California, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. This ground dwelling mantis matures to about 1-1/2 to 3” long and has light brown to tan/gray coloring with a mottled texture. Their coloring can change with their habitat. This gives the mantid great camouflage for stalking prey. They appear horned. Unlike other mantids, that camouflage and ambush, Obscure ground mantis actually run down their prey. They are uniquely adapted to deserts and grasslands. Females have a rough pronotum and wing pads without developed wings. Males have wings but do not fly. They are attracted to mercury and ultraviolet lights.
Slender Prairie Mantis (Oligonicella scudderi), a Southern U.S. native mantis, usually have murky white to pale brown coloration and are found across Texas and along the Great Plains. They are also known as Scudder’s mantis. These mantids are small, growing to 1”- 1½” long. They have a distinctively unique stick-like body. They are more rectangular in shape than other mantis species. They hunt mainly on the ground. They run into vegetation when they feel threatened. They do seem to prefer Little Bluestem grass and often camouflage with its color. They are found in grasses, especially bluestem, close to the ground. Males are attracted to and fly to lights at night while the flightless, wingless females stay hidden in the grass. The males’ wings are as long as their entire abdomen. Both sexes run with their heads uplifted. They sit and wait, motionless, then quickly ambush small insects like flies, wasps, mites, beetles, and moths. These mantids use special hairs on their forelegs to sense vibrations, which lead them to prey with precision. Their ootheca is small and rectangular and often found beneath rocks and on low-growing plants or shrubs. Females are more full-bodied and wider than the slim males. Males usually have a lighter, more uniform color than the more dark and mottled females. The males are more agile and active and perform ostentatious mating rituals. Females also often eat the males after mating. Females lay tiny eggs in an ootheca attached to leaves or stems of plants that allow it to blend into the surroundings. The female constructs one to two ootheca at a time, each containing 10-20 eggs. They can produce ten or more ootheca on a single night. Their main predators are reptiles, rodents, other mantids and birds.
Slim Mexican Mantis (Bistanta Mexicana) are tan to light brown with dark-colored legs. They are also known as Mexican Grass Mantis. They are native to Mexico but are also found in southern Texas and the southwest U.S. They have small bumps above their eyes and their rear pronotum is twice the length of their front pronotum. They generally grow to 2-3” long but there are a few atypical records of the largest found, including sizes of up to 5” long. These mantids can turn their heads nearly 180 degrees, making them adept at finding prey. They are often found during the day, especially late morning to early afternoon, on trees, under leaves and other protected spaces. They resemble walking sticks with their grass-like, slender bodies. Their elongated heads are small compared to their body length. Their brown to tan body is very effective camouflage. They are found in oak and grasslands, grasses and shrubs. Females are wingless while males have wings and fly well. They ambush prey while on branches of trees and on plants. They camouflage and hold perfectly still until prey comes close, then they strike. They prefer small insects like flies, grasshoppers, crickets and moths. Their predators include spiders, frogs, rodents, birds and larger insects.
Pacific Ground Mantis (Litaneutria pacifica) is an additional native to North America. They are found in semi-arid areas of the Southern U.S. They grow up to 1 – 2” in length. Their coloration is determined by their habitation and can vary from light yellow to gray, brown and occasionally even black. Their mottled, stippled colorations give them remarkable camouflage. They prefer gardens, meadows, grass, grasslands, sagebrush, deserts, forests, and prairies. They do have wings but cannot fly very well. They are most active during the day, especially after sunrise and before sunset. They can rotate their heads a full 180 degrees lending them a huge advantage in finding prey. They are active during the day where they can bask in the sun. Males are smaller and thinner, have longer wings, and have longer antennae than females. While males are better fliers, females are stronger and much more aggressive hunters. They hunt small to large arthropods, like aphids, spiders, beetles, crickets and caterpillars, with high velocity and camouflage. Their predators include birds, rodents, other insects and lizards.
The Big Country Master Gardener Association presents free education programs every month. There is a program at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Abilene Public Library South Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the same program is presented again at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Abilene Public Library main branch in downtown Abilene.
We are here to help you. If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at bcmgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you will also visit our Facebook page, our website at bcmgtx.org, and the BCMGA YouTube channel for all Big Country Master Gardener information, events, and training.
Until next week, happy gardening!