Stagmomantis carolina

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

• Mantises (Order Mantodea)

• Suborder Eumantodea

• Infraorder Schizomantodea

The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is a species of praying mantis of the subfamily Stagmomantinae. The front legs are usually held folded in front of the insect in a pose resembling an attitude of prayer. When an unfortunate insect gets too close, the mantid's fore legs lash out, grab the prey, and then hold it while it is eaten