More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Mantises of Zihuatanejo
INFRAORDER SCHIZOMANTODEA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Mantises (Order Mantodea)
-Suborder Eumantodea
-Infraorder Schizomantodea
-Superfamily Eremiaphiloidea
-Amelid Mantises (Family Amelidae)
-Tribe Litaneutriini
-Genus Yersinia
-Yersinia mexicana
Yersinia mexicana is a species of ground mantis in the family Yersiniopsidae, primarily native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States. Unlike the large, green mantises often seen in gardens, this species is specialized for a life on the ground, featuring a slender, elongated body and a mottled brown or grey coloration that provides perfect camouflage against soil, rocks, and dry leaf litter. As highly active hunters, they rely on their keen eyesight and rapid raptorial forelegs to ambush small ground-dwelling invertebrates like ants and tiny beetles.
Description
Yersinia is a genus of small to medium-sized praying mantises in the family Mantidae. They have slender bodies, triangular heads with prominent eyes, long walking legs, and spined raptorial forelegs. Species are generally green, brown, or greyish and often have subtle markings that provide camouflage among vegetation.
Range
Yersinia is primarily a Neotropical genus occurring from Mexico and Central America into northern and tropical South America. Mexican species are associated with warm regions, including the Pacific slope and southern Mexico, and the genus may be encountered around Zihuatanejo in suitable habitat.
Habitat
These mantises inhabit tropical and subtropical forest, seasonally dry woodland, scrub, forest edges, clearings, and gardens. They are generally vegetation-dwelling, resting on leaves, stems, and branches where their subdued colouring helps conceal them from both predators and prey.
Diet
Yersinia species are predatory and feed mainly on insects and other small arthropods, including flies, moths, beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, and spiders. They use their spined forelegs to seize prey rapidly from ambush.
Yersinia mexicana
