Carolina Mantid
Stagmomantis carolina `
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The Carolina mantid is about 2½ inches long, with the head and thorax accounting for almost half of the body length. The wings are shorter than the abdomen. It is seen on low shrubs and herbs, often on goldenrod, where it feeds on other insects. This mantid can make two separate strikes with its forelegs within a fraction of a second which makes it successful at catching flying insects at rest, before they have time to react.

The Carolina mantid and the praying mantis both range in color from light brown to green.

A mantid will often conceal itself in foliage, waiting for its prey which it catches very rapidly. The Carolina mantid in the lower photograph has captured a viceroy butterfly that had been perched on top of the buttonbush leaf moments before.