Skip to main content
Close

Mantid

Stagmomantis californica

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

33.135, -117.034

Field Notes

Description:

Gorgeous Mantid nymph with orange/red eyes with creme stripes. The body is dark brown with light stripes all over. When it becomes an adult, the eyes will be plain green to brown but not this pretty color/pattern.

Habitat:

Sunflower in the backyard garden.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)

Yes, one of my friends has bred S. californica.
This may be but for now, Bug Guide won't move it past genus. Do you have documentation showing the distinct color difference between the immatures of species?
CindyBinghamKeiser do you find S. californica often?
1st instar of Stagmomantis californica have these colors and patterns. 1st instar S. limbata are green. 1st instar S. carolina are kind of brownish.
Thank you Karen, Rieko and Noel! It was narrowed down to the genus but like João said, they're nearly impossible to ID at such a young age.
Thank you Leuba and João. The eyes are what surprised me. I've never seen a mantid in my area with eyes like this. They've all had plain green eyes, both nymph and adult.
It is pretty, but impossible to get to species from such a small nymph, they change a lot when growing and could even possibly look as a plain green when adult :)

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon