Preying Mantis Animal Report Day 1

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropod

Class: Insects

Family: Mantidae

Order: Mantodea which is the largest of the family

Genus: Mantis

Species: Religiosa 

Evolution:

3 Subspecies: Langoalata, Latinota, Macedonica 

How long has the Religiosa existed: 60,000 BCE

Closet living relative: Cockroaches

3 ancestors of the Mantis Religiosa: Blattodea, Phasmatodea, Orthopetra

Description:

Weight: 4-7 grams

Life Span: Average 1-2 years if lucky

Males and Female Difference of the Mantis Religiosa: Men are 7 cm on average and Women are 8 cm. Also males have more slender and longer wings than females.

Animal Report Day 2  

Description of Habitat:

How much rain fall: 6-12 inches every 2 or so weeks will be ideal for this species

Plants: Lots of Rubber and Mahogany Trees 

Animals: Lots of Flys and mosquitoes. Also a variation of smaller toads and frogs

Tempature:  Very humid climate aswell as 70-80 Degrees ideally

Terrain: Rainforest

Distribution:

Continets Found: Europe, Africa, North America, Asia {Nepal}

Invasive at all: The Mantis Religiosa does not pose any kind of threat to ecosystems functioning

Diet:

What exactly does it eat: Beatles, Crickets, Moths{ Lepidoptera}

How often does it eat: Atleast Once a day, They can go usually 2-3 days without food before experiencing life threatening symptoms.

How does it get its food:  The Mantis is a ambush executive kind of style  in search of prey. They leap out from hiding and with lighting quick speed snatch their prey with there front 2 legs. 

Animal Report Day 3

Social Structure:

Live in packs or solo: They are insects that usually live Solo

Roles within community:  No roles because they like to live solo

Male or Female led groups: If there were to be groups it would be ran by the females because they are bigger in size on average

Individuals that make up the group: Usually the older female that harbors her offspring

How do they interact with each other: Little to no interaction between Mantises all across the board

Reproduction:

How often do they mate: On Average they breed only once a year

How many mates do they have: About 1-2 a year

Time of year for mating: Late September through early October. 

Mating Rituals: Typically Males have to cautiously step up to the Female mantises in order of avoiding getting its head gnawed off by the female.

Number of offspring produces at a time: approximately 130-150  mantis's can hatch from a egg patch

Any unique Characteristics of their mating: Not usually

Development:

Stages of development: A mantis's Development can be broken into 3 life stages, Egg, Nymph and Adult

How old before sexual maturity: After completing their final molt after adulthood

Activities and environment of stages: Learning how to blend in with environment and camouflaging 

Difference between males and females:  Females typically need more time to develop so they do something called "Moult". Which is a method of casting off their body parts in order for them to grow bigger down the line.

Animal Report Day 4:

Causes of death:

Predation: Typically this kind of mantis is known for being an Ambush Predator

Sexual Competition:  Sexual cannabalism occurred almost 31% of the time out in the wild among this species

Disease: Fungi Infections, Bacterial Infections, And also Mismoults

Competition:

What do they compete over: Sexual  and Physical domination is the target for these males before they get their head clobbered off by the Female Mantis's.

Affect of invasive species: No studies have shown the Mantis Religiosa being a threat to any threatened species.

IUCN Rating:

What is the rating: At a global level it is accesed as least concern

Population: 20000-50000

Population Trend:  Population trend has been studied and is still unknown

Impact of Humans:

What impacts have occured: None that has brought thew attention of any Scientists

Potential Future Impacts: None their IUCN Rating is least concern

How long have Humans been interacting with species: it is estimated that humans have been interacting with this species since the early 1800's

Effors Being Made to minimize impacts: None because the Mantis religiosa is a small insect that isnt a threat to any body