European mantis

Habitat:

Range - Widespread in the United States and in southeastern and southwestern Canada, but often not as common in hot humid or very dry climates as elsewhere. Generally not found in desert regions except in agricultural, urban, or otherwise artivicially watered environments. Perhaps(?) not able to overwinter in north-central US and south-central Canada. It can be expected almost anywhere, because it is often sold as egg cases for pest control in gardens, even in places where it cannot survive long term.

Notes:

Found this young mantid as I will filling up the water for my chickens. I caught the little one in a jar for the photo shoot and to show my wife and let it go in a near by tree (out of the chickens reach). As soon as I placed the mantis down there was a small fly ahead of him on the branch and he tried to catch it but it was able to struggle away.