Field and Swamp: Animals and Their Habitats

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Mantids and Cockroaches (superorder Dictyoptera, infraclass Neoptera, subclass Pterygota, class Insecta, subphylum Hexapoda, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom Animalia, domain Eukaryota)

Mantids have elaborate mouthparts.  Their mouths are aided by four long, skinny maxillary palps.

Coptopterygidae family (order Mantodea)

         
Brunner's Mantis (Brunneria borealis), Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 9/9/21          

Mantidae family (order Mantodea)

Carolina Mantis (Stagomantis carolina)

The Carolina Mantis is very shy and wary, retreating when humans come near.

         
Carolina Mantis, Goose Creek State Park, Beaufort County, NC, 9/25/13 Female Carolina Mantis, lateral view, Riverbend Park, Catawba County, NC, 9/24/09 Female Carolina Mantis, on boardwalk, Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 10/15/09 Another Carolina Mantis, with prey, Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 10/15/09 Carolina Mantis, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC,  9/30/06          

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera aridifolia)

Chinese Mantis, Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 10/7/10 Chinese Mantis, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/21/06.& A good view of the mantid chewing parts surrounded by the four maxillary palps. Chinese Mantis, Appalachian Trail, Botetourt County, VA, 9/15/04. This was the biggest mantid I've ever seen. Chinese Mantis, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 8/24/05. Chinese Mantis, the same mantis.


         
Dead Chinese mantis, an apparent male casualty of mating, Durham, NC, 9/20/09          

(European) Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

These insects are not afraid of humans.  Although apparently sometimes curious about us, they mostly ignore us and go about their business.

Praying Mantis. The two bottom upward-pointing maxillary palps are clearly visible; one top palp points around the side. Durham, NC, 10/7/07 (European) Praying Mantis, Durham, 8/26/04, eating a flower fly. Praying Mantis, Durham, 8/26/05.  Mating mantises, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 9/16/05. Praying Mantis, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/9/06, was eating a Silver-spotted Skipper.

Mantid Nymphs

Young mantid, about 1 inch long, NC Botanical Garden, 5/9/10 Mantid nymph, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Durham County, NC, 5/29/05.  This insect was about an inch long, has no wings, and has been magnified.  Mantid nymph, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 4/28/06.  This may be a member of a different species from the one on the left: it's smoother. Praying Mantis nymph, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 8/17/05.  This nymph has "wing pads," i.e., the beginnings of wings. The developing wings of this Praying Mantis nymph show more clearly.  Boone, 8/29/05. Those growing wings show even better on this Praying Mantis nymph Also seen in Boone, 8/29/05.


       
Baby praying mantises, Durham, NC, 4/20/10        

Mantid Exuviae

   
Mantis exuvia, Durham, NC, 7/6/20 Mantid exuvia where it was found off the Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 7/25/11 A better view of the mantid exuvia on the left.    

Mantid Eggcases

Mantid egg case, Penny's Bend Nature Reserve, Durham County, NC, 10/15/05 Mantid egg case, Duke Forest Gate 12, Durham, 1/19/06 Mantid egg case, apparently after mantids emerged, Duke Forest Gate 12, Durham, 4/6/06

Cockroaches (family Blattidae, superfamily Blattoidea, suborder Blattaria, order Blattodea)

American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana), Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, 7/31/06 Male Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis), Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/10/06, eating (very poisonous) Amanita mushroom.


 
Very young cockroach, 3 mm long, Durham, NC, 11/3/09 Half-grown cockroach, Durham, NC, 5/19/10  

 

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