† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
|
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Aug/31/2006 7:37 PM PST
i had one on my window screen last night! one of the green ones. i haven't seen a mantis in ages. |
 |
Posted: Aug/31/2006 7:42 PM PST
OK, I found this info from a wildlife expert on eNature.com - "The coloration of mantids is genetically controlled, the mantids found in your area [Newport, OR] come in green and brown forms, and except for the tendency for green individuals to become a dull grayish-brown as they get old, they don’t change color during their lives. Natural selection usually dictates the ratio of colors in any given population, in habitats with a predominantly brown background, this form will prosper by escaping the notice of visual predators (mainly birds), and in lush green situations, more of the green mantids will survive to reproduce. I don’t know if anybody has studied the home range of mantids in the wild, but they are likely to travel very little if there is food and shelter where they are, but they can walk, jump and fly to a new location if competition or starvation are a factor." |
|
|
Posted: Aug/31/2006 8:06 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by shinekeeper I didn't read all the stuff in the links y'all posted...guess they change colors???That one looks like an alien you see in movies lol |
|
|
Posted: Aug/31/2006 8:35 PM PST
interesting article, Shine.  Mommabear, mantises(manti? what's the plural?) are the only insects that have a head that will turn. it gives them a more intelligent look. kinda creepy, actually. they do look like little aliens. |
 |
Posted: Aug/31/2006 9:06 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by shinekeeper OK, I found this info from a wildlife expert on eNature.com - "The coloration of mantids is genetically controlled, the mantids found in your area [Newport, OR] come in green and brown forms, and except for the tendency for green individuals to become a dull grayish-brown as they get old, they dont change color during their lives. Natural selection usually dictates the ratio of colors in any given population, in habitats with a predominantly brown background, this form will prosper by escaping the notice of visual predators (mainly birds), and in lush green situations, more of the green mantids will survive to reproduce. I dont know if anybody has studied the home range of mantids in the wild, but they are likely to travel very little if there is food and shelter where they are, but they can walk, jump and fly to a new location if competition or starvation are a factor." Guess what?  I know differently..:carrot: But thanks for your sharing!:banana-wa I had one sack one last year , saw them being born they were all the light brown in color,I watched them grow old (were green then light brown)and unless someone put a mantis from a different sac(parents&color) in the plant I did; Im certain that they do turn color at the end of thier life cycle they turn brownish, Actually a few days ago I had to get one of mine it flew across the street, and it was brown with green I knew it was getting ready to mate finish its cycle of life.If I get a pic Ill post it for you, I cant find it been looking .. I know its there.I think it was a male. He was very friendly Ill keep looking till I find him .And meanwhile Ill try to find time to get the pic of the lady from last year , just before makin her sacsKale
|
|
|
Posted: Sep/01/2006 11:57 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by mommabear3604 That one looks like an alien you see in movies lolFunny you should say that...I sent that same pic to my son with the caption, "Earthling, take me to your leader"!!!! |
 |
Posted: Sep/01/2007 10:51 PM PST
Bump.....so is a walking stick a version of the brown mantis? |
 |
Posted: Sep/06/2007 7:00 PM PST
Those were some great pics. Mantises (mantisi? mantissa? Well, a mantis and his friends) are also in my top 20 bugs. :-) |
 |
Posted: Sep/16/2007 11:42 AM PST
I spotted this darling right by my house. A couple weeks ago I saw a brown one about the same size right in the same area. I don't know if it's the same one. It looks like a rotted leaf. I don't know if you can see well or not, but the edges of the top wings have green identical to the grass blades and the same shape. Under those there's shrivelled brown/black wings that look like really decayed leaf. The other wing bits are brown like dry leaves and curly. The underside, which didn't show up well in my pictures, is a peach color. The back end of it's body is quite wide. I'm wondering if it's near it's end and what all these colorations mean. Maybe it was a breeding thing or egg laying time? That's a gutter it's on. The wiggly looking thing at it's back end is a branch and not part of the bug. I took some with my regular camera with the macro, but I'm not that the settings were right. If they turn out when I get them developed I'll post them. Attachments:  |
|
|
Posted: Sep/16/2007 5:06 PM PST
The page zoom feature using the ctrl key and the roller on top of the mouse really helps seeing the green stripes on it. |
† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
