European Mantis

Description:

Originating in southern Europe, the European Mantis was introduced to North America in 1899 on a shipment of nursery plants. Now they are found all over the north-eastern United States and Canada to the Pacific Northwest. The European Mantis is usually 5–7.5 cm (2–3 inches) in length, and has shades of bright green to tan. It can be distinguished easily by a black-ringed spot beneath the fore coxae. They can take on both brown and green forms.

Habitat:

This mantis was found amongst the landscaping of an office park on the Colorado Front Range. European Mantids are most abundant after a mild winter.