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Mantis religiosa
A type of mantis species.
Dry warm habitat. Found by or on vegetation where it takes it's prey.
This particular mantis was about 1 decimeter in length. Did not have the two abdominal points.
Thank you for that. I am not as well versed in my Mantids as I would like to be.
I am sorry to have to tell you that this lovely creature is a non-native species. The purple femora (upper parts of the two pair of hind legs, pink edging on the wings and thorax, and the dark spots between the front legs are all features of Mantis religiosa. This species has been introduced (probably intentionally as natural "bug control") and has established itself rather well.
This would be a nice addition to the Marvelous Mantids of the World mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1573...