Carolina Mantis

Description:

Head and thorax almost as long as the body. Antennae about half as long as middle legs. Pale green to brownish grey, often inconspicuous on vegetation. Males usually brown, females green or brown. Wings do not extend to tip of abdomen, especially in female. (Females apparently flightless, or nearly so.) Abdomen of female strongly widened in middle. Tegmina (outer wings) are broad, reaching apical third of the abdomen, with a stigmatic (dark) black patch.

Habitat:

It ranges from New Jersey south to Florida; west to Utah, Arizona, Texas, and through Mexico to Central America. Recently found in New York as well, perhaps extending its range. It inhabits meadows and gardens, on herbs, low shrubs, and flower heads.