September, 2016

Northern Grass Mantis

The graceful northern grass mantis (Brunneria borealis) might look like a walkingstick, but it is only distantly related. It is indeed very slender and can easily disappear in tall grass, but, like all other mantises, it is a predator. This mantis can be over 3 inches long and its raptorial front legs are strongly spined for catching and holding prey. It is not a particularly common species in our area, and I haven't seen one in several years, but I used to encounter them more frequently.

This is a flightless insect, with only very tiny wings. One amazing characteristic is that the species reproduces through parthenogenesis: only females are known and eggs develop without fertilization.