Praying Mantis - Mantis religiosa

European mantis

A white dot inside the black spot is not the requirement for this species identification. The one without white spot will still be able to breed with the one with white spot and bear viable ootheca. The pic you have there is an adult male Mantis religiosa.

… Yen Saw, 24 August, 2009 - 12:25pm

Threat Display

Too bad you don't have a pic of a female threat display as it is quite a colorful sight!

… ladygigi, 10 May, 2013 - 3:08am

BugGuide Does...

BugGuide does indeed have a "threat display" photo.

… Alice Cavette, 10 May, 2013 - 1:57pm

New female mantid display photos

I've just posted these of this mantis displaying. I have a video too, which shows it bobbing and weaving and striking out. I'll try to upload it.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1284717

… rvanderkam, 31 August, 2016 - 9:51am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Alice Cavette, 21 August, 2009 - 10:53pm

very nice! + thought about arm spots

I think the underarm patches on Euro mantis are black with white centers, kind of a bullseye appearance. This looks different, but.. maybe it's within normal for the species? Let's see what the experts think.

… Andrew Williams, 21 August, 2009 - 3:58pm

That's What I Thought

See my comment below.

Someone else asks the same thing:

… Alice Cavette, 21 August, 2009 - 6:35pm

Euro mantids minus white patch

Guess the Oreo center wasn't a mandatory dress code :)
Maybe the description page should get a tweak/additional note. Hopefully somebody on BG that knows the species well addresses this point/post. If not, maybe it would make a good forum question.

… Andrew Williams, 21 August, 2009 - 10:06pm

Forum Post

I asked for an explanation at this forum.

… Alice Cavette, 21 August, 2009 - 11:03pm

Nice display!

You must have pissed it off! =) Makes for some nice shots.

… Ashley Bradford, 21 August, 2009 - 3:10pm

Bird did it...

A Black Phoebe from inside the willow startled the mantis as the mantis flew onto an outside leaf. Later, it closed up its wings and walked up into the other leaves. I have a movie of that part but no single images.

Is it a Mantis religiosa even though there is no white inside the black spots?

… Alice Cavette, 21 August, 2009 - 3:44pm