Scudder's mantis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scudder's mantis |
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The Oligonicella scudderi, also known as Scudder's mantis or the slender prairie mantid, is a type of praying mantis. It lives in the southern parts of the United States. This insect is small and brown. Male Scudder's mantises can fly, but the females do not have wings.
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What is Scudder's Mantis?
Scudder's mantis is a small insect that looks a bit like a stick. It is usually pale brown, which helps it blend in with its surroundings. These mantises live on the ground. They grow to be about 35 millimeters (or 1.4 inches) long.
Male and Female Differences
Male Scudder's mantises have wings that are long enough to cover their whole body. This means they can fly easily. You might even see them flying around at night!
Female Scudder's mantises, however, do not have wings. They move around by scuttling (moving quickly) across the ground. They are always on the lookout for food.
Where Does it Live?
Scudder's mantis is found in the southern United States. Its home range stretches from the Great Plains, including places like Nebraska, all the way south to Texas and even into Mexico.
What Does it Eat?
Like other praying mantises, Scudder's mantises are predators. This means they hunt and eat other smaller insects.
Male mantises have been seen eating small flies, caddis flies, and wasps. It is likely that the females eat similar types of insects.
How They Hide
When a Scudder's mantis feels like it is in danger, it tries to hide. They often hide in clumps of little bluestem grass (which is called Schizachyrium scoparium). Their brown color helps them blend in perfectly with the grass, making them very hard to spot!
If you wanted to find one, the best way is to gently sweep a small net through the grass.
Life Cycle
Like other mantis species, Scudder's mantises lay their eggs in a special way. The female lays a group of eggs and covers them with a foamy substance. This foam then hardens, forming a protective case for the eggs. This egg case helps keep the eggs safe until they hatch.
