Mantis question

[jonnosteams]

Don't even ask for a pic... it is not possible with this thing.

I have in my worm rock a 1/2" sized 'thing'. I'm assuming it is a mantis, but not sure. I have had clubbers before and this one is not.

Here's a description. It is a bout 1/2" in length. Dark grey to dark green in color. Has mantis body shape to it. The one distinguishing characteristic I've seen is it has very fast arms that come out to snatch food. These arms remind me of elephant trunks in the way they move and probe for food. They are also about TWICE the length of the body.

Any ideas?

[theplatypus]

Start looking here.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthrop...html#directory

[jonnosteams]

Thanks. That was very informative with good pics and next time I get a another Mantis I'll make sure to check that out.

I don't believe it is a Mantis that I have. Any other ideas? It's kind of a cross between a pill bug and mantis shrimp. There seems to be less of a thorasic carapace. It may just be too small for me to tell anything yet. I didn't see anything in the link that described the 'trunks/arms'. That makes me think it may not be a mantis.

Wish I could get a pic, it's the oddest thing and extremely fast. The crack is also so narrow that I can't even get a good visual on the body. I've pieced a mental pic together from bits I've seen at a time.