Let’s pan out and look at the
big picture. Like many insects, mantids
occur on most continents, but more abundantly in biodiversity hotspots such as
tropical rainforests, though a number species have adapted to arid, semi-arid,
and temperate regions.
When you’ve been at a certain location for some time, then the question becomes
dependent on your current location.
Though I’ve never done an official survey in the state of NJ, I would
guess (from casual observations) that mantids occur more frequently in areas of
vegetation- trees, long grass, etc. I
could tell you with a certain confidence that you’d more likely find mantids in
Hunterdon and Warren Counties, than Sussex and Essex Counties. I’ve certainly seen more mantids in the
grasses and forests of Hunterdon & Warren than in the urban towns within
Sussex and Essex.
Having resided in Essex County, NJ for 14 years, I can say
that we found three juvenile mantids, but if I remember correctly, it was only
in a span of probably 1 year (2 summers).
Two were found in the backyard, one was on our neighbor’s house. They certainly were not a common occurrence in
that area during those 14 years (unless I was just terrible at spotting
them). When relocating to Warren County
across the other side of NJ, we get more of an agricultural and natural
vegetative scene. In this area (and
neighboring Hunterdon County), Chinese mantids, (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis), are relatively prolific. They are not seen every day, but enough to
say ‘they occur here’. Ironically, they
are not native in the US.
Can we find mantids in big city areas? I would venture to say that you would not see
any mantids if you spend a month’s vacation in New York City. But in saying that, however, I do remember
watching US Open Tennis on TV, and during a match, it showed a live video of a
mantis which I believe was on top of the stadium of Center Court (just behind
the furthest seats). The US Open
tournament is held in Flushing Meadows, NY, just a subway ride from Manhattan,
so anything is possible.
Throughout my years in the temperate region of North-eastern
USA, I’ve seen two (possible three) species of mantids. Within the two years of living in the
Tropical climate of Northern Queensland, Australia, I’ve seen about a dozen species. Several of those species were abundant enough
for collection and breeding. Four of the
most abundant species (from my observation) are Orthodera ministralis, Tenodera
australasiae, Archimantis latistyla, and
Ciulfina sp.
Within human habitats, O.
ministralis, the ‘Garden Mantids’, are often seen in their adult stage (both
males and females) on walls and windows in the lights during the warm/wet
seasons. Due to their relatively small
size, they are difficult to spot in the bush.
I have seen/caught only one juvenile specimen residing in the long
grass. T. australasiae, the ‘Purple-winged Mantids’, and A. latistyla, ‘Grass/Stick Mantids’ are
often seen in their adult stage (mostly males) on lighted walls during the
warm/wet seasons.
T. australasiae are widespread around human habitat and in the
bush. Adult A. latistyla are massive mantids in terms of length, therefore
easier to spot (compared with other species) in the long grass. Ciulfina
sp, the ‘Running tree Mantids’, from my observation, are not found around
human habitats, however they are widely abundant residing literally on the
trees within the rainforest. Mantids are
typically slow-moving insects (not including their lightning-speed strikes),
however Ciulfina sp are
exceptions. They are among the fastest
running insects I’ve personally seen.
I should also mention several other specieswhich you may
come across in Tropical Northern QLD if you spend enough time there. Hierodula
majuscula, the ‘Giant Australian/Rainforest Mantids’ are what I call
“Australia’s finest”. In terms of bulk,
they are the largest of Australian mantids and a “must have” if you are a
collector. Sphodropoda mjobergi, the ‘Burying Mantids’, slightly shorter in length
than H. majuscula, but similar bulky build, are also seen
occasionally. Neomantis australis, the tiny ‘Net-Winged Mantids’, I suspect are more
abundant than they seem, but their extremely small size keeps them out of sight
from humans. I have not done any
official survey or studies on them, but I did observe several specimens at one
time underneath the outdoor roofs covering the footpaths of James Cook
University.
The key word here is ‘find’, and it is a variable dependent on
camouflage. Like many organisms, mantids
depend on camouflage for survival, and they are among the best of the animal
kingdom at this adaptation. When
searching for mantids within their natural habitats, you may look in the right
places, you may even walk by or stand next to them, but you will not
necessarily see or find them. So
essentially, even if I could tell you where to look for mantids, it is far from
certain that you’ll find them.
In particular circumstances, mantids may be found in
clusters (typically only one species inhabiting the area, and often physically
isolated). In the later part of 2011, a
small patch of tall grass existed along Captain Cook Highway at James Cook
University in QLD. This patch has since
been destroyed, but I was fortunate enough to collect more than several A. latistyla specimens for study and
rearing prior to the landscape reconstruction.
A number of juveniles resided on this patch of grass and with such great
abundance of prey items in Tropical QLD, competition between mantids did not
seem like an issue. This is one of those
rare situations where I could have told you “I know exactly where to find
mantids”.
It is also possible to find a specimen in a small isolated
area where it would reside its entire life (or until maturity if it’s a male
which would eventually fly off to mate).
I have observed a T. aridifolia
sinensis one summer years ago inhabiting a small bush in the backyard in
Warren County, NJ. This was a female
specimen which reached maturity and stayed within her territory. In this situation, I could have said “Yes, I
know where you can find one”.
I have never attempted this, but I have heard of mantids
(mostly adult males) being “lured” by using black light. I have certainly seen male mantids attracted
to regular lights during the hours of darkness.
During heavy monsoons in Tropical QLD, I have also observed mantids
taking refuge under human-construction (and have taken advantage of those
situations).
So you’ll need to take into account certain variables to narrow it down. It depends on your location, species, time of
year, and luck—will mantids be at the exact spots where your eyes happen to
scan and at those particular times? So
if you were to ask me or anyone else who studies/collects mantids, we may point you in right direction, but unless you have a team
of explorers and take the time for a thorough search, I would say the chances that
you would find one (except in particular circumstances) are small. But with that said, you may walk out your door
and have a mantid staring you in the face, or you may take a walk in an urban
area and see one on the ground in front of you.
I was fortunate enough to come across an adult female H. majuscula literally on the sand at
Missions Beach, QLD, completely out of its arboreal habitat.
In essence, my answer to the question is based on individual
circumstances and no certainties. But if
you, the reader, are genuinely interested in finding mantids, then I hope that
this excerpt, combined with determination, tenacity, and some common sense, can
lead you closer to your search and eventually earn your prize.
JSY
