melvynyeo on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/melvynyeo/art/Mantis-Nymph-2-256687461melvynyeo

Deviation Actions

melvynyeo's avatar

Mantis Nymph 2

By
Published:
2.2K Views

Description

Taken in Kubah National Park
As in related insect groups, mantises go through three stages of metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult (mantises are among the hemimetabolic insects). The nymph and adult insect are structurally quite similar, except that the nymph is smaller and has no wings or functional genitalia. The nymphs are also sometimes colored differently from the adult, and the early stages are often mimics of ants. A mantis nymph increases in size (often changing its diet as it does so) by replacing its outer body covering with a sturdy, flexible exoskeleton and molting when needed. This can happen from five to ten times, depending on the species. After the final molt most species have wings, though some species are wingless or brachypterous ("short-winged"), particularly in the female sex.

Source [link]
Image size
1000x667px 446.71 KB
© 2011 - 2024 melvynyeo
Comments14
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
morningstarskid's avatar
Winged?....always thought so..living up here in the north eastern US coastal states...never Seen in flight...
Where do they tend to nest???