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Stagmomantis carolina
An unexpected visitor at the football game ... didn't stay long, but let me get a couple photos before it flew away. Order Mantodea, more than 2,400 species and 430 genera. I think this is Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis carolina?
Wikipedia:
Native to the Americas, and common in the Southeast U.S., the Carolina mantis has a dusty brown, gray or green color useful as camouflage. The color varies because the nymphs are able to adjust their color to match the environment they are in at the time of molting. They can adjust their color over each molt, if necessary, until they reach their final molt to adulthood. Hmm ... might be fun to turn colors, but I don't think I'd enjoy molting.
Spotted on Oct 10, 2013
Submitted on Oct 12, 2013
2 Comments
Thank you, ForestDragon, for the ID verification and the kind words.
suzmonk, absolutely! This is a male Carolina Mantis, Stagmomantis carolina. You are correct. Nice series!