New Zealand praying mantis

Description:

A green praying mantis 30-40cm long with distinct blue patches on it's legs.

Notes:

The praying mantis most commonly seen around in the warmer parts of New Zealand is an immigrant from South Africa. This new comer is pushing the native New Zealand praying mantis out of it's habitat as it moves south. Most of the praying mantis we see here on the East Coast are South African. I am thererfore always very happy when I find the New Zealand native praying mantis. It is much more colourful than the South African with the blue and yellow colouring on it's legs.