Litaneutria minor
This record describes Litaneutria minor (species). Recorded family: Mantidae. Recorded order: Mantodea.
Identification and Appearance
Pronotum distinctly longer than wide. Fore femur lacking deep pit or groove between first and second spines on outer ventral margin. Outer ventral margin of fore femur usually with 4 spines: antenna thin, filamentous. Fore tibia unarmed dorsoapically; more robust species. Small species, less than 35mm long costal margin of tegmen with dense coat of fine cilia (applies to the U.S. only) Males have a brown spot near the base of the first pair of wings Females have a rough pronotum and no spot on the base of the forewings. Very difficult to capture.
Wikipedia reference for Litaneutria minor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litaneutria_minor.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A ground-dweller, but sometimes found on low vegetation.
Geographic Range
In Canada: known only from the dry grasslands of British Columbia in the extreme southern Okanagan Valley near Oliver and Osoyoos. In the U.S.: widespread; from Colorado and Arizona to Mexico, northwest to California, north to Dakota, and occasionally to Texas.
About Mantids: the wider group
Order-level background for Mantodea, the group containing Litaneutria minor. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Mantodea (praying mantises) includes ~2,400 described species in 430 genera. The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head 180 degrees to look over its shoulder.
Ecological role of the group
Mantises are apex insect predators with lightning-fast strike speeds - they can catch prey in as little as 50-70 milliseconds. Some species catch hummingbirds and small lizards. Female mantises sometimes practice sexual cannibalism, consuming the male during or after mating in about 25% of encounters.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Mantises are sold commercially as garden pest control. The Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) was introduced to the U.S. in 1896 for pest control and is now established across the eastern United States.
Recorded sources for this group: Smithsonian, entomology research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Litaneutria minor
What is Litaneutria minor?
Litaneutria minor is a species in the family Mantidae, within the order Mantodea.
How big is Litaneutria minor?
25-30mm
How do you identify Litaneutria minor?
Pronotum distinctly longer than wide. Fore femur lacking deep pit or groove between first and second spines on outer ventral margin. Outer ventral margin of fore femur usually with 4 spines: antenna thin, filamentous. Fore tibia unarmed dorsoapically; more robust species. Small species, less than 35mm long costal margin of tegmen with dense coat of fine cilia (applies to the U.S. only) Males have a brown spot near the base of the first pair of wings Females have a rough pronotum and no spot on the base of the forewings.
Where is Litaneutria minor found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | A ground-dweller, but sometimes found on low vegetation. |
| Range | In Canada: known only from the dry grasslands of British Columbia in the extreme southern Okanagan Valley near Oliver and Osoyoos. In the U.S.: widespread; from Colorado and Arizona to Mexico, northwest to California, north to Dakota, and occasionally to Texas. |