Chinese Mantid (Male)

Description:

Tan to pale green. Forewings tan with green along front margin. Compound eyes chocolate-brown at sunset, pale tan soon after sunrise and during the day. Widely distributed in the U.S. due to the availability of commercially purchased egg-cases. Carnivorous, eats other insects, both pests and beneficials. Also capable of eating small animals like frogs, lizards and even hummingbirds! Other common names are Chinese Praying Mantis and Chinese Mantis.

Habitat:

Meadows and gardens, on tall herbs, flower clusters and shrubs.

Notes:

Overwinters in egg-masses along tree stems. Nymphs hatch in late spring, disperse in the wind, and thereafter are solitary. The nymphs look like small, wingless adults. The nymphs undergo six to seven molts before adulthood. Mating usually takes place in September. I found this late last night/early morning under my porch. The lights brought it in. It was playing with spider webs for a while, trying to string a meal. Every pun intended ")