Is this native or invasive praying mantis?

by Nikeflies

10 Comments

  1. I believe they are not native, non non-invasive, possibly beneficial

  2. ZhanZhuang

    It’s kind of hard to tell from this picture. It could be a Carolina mantis which would be native.

  3. EugeneHarlot

    How big is it? Invasive Chinese mantis are huge, like 4+ inches. They are indiscriminate predators, feeding on caterpillars and beneficial pollinators like bees, moths, and butterflies. They’ve even been known to kill hummingbirds. They out-compete and also feed on native mantids.

    Chinese mantis are bright green or brown backed. It’s hard to tell but yours doesn’t look like the coloring.

  4. Calbebes

    Google the difference. I believe the invasive ones wings go the full length of their body, where the native ones have smaller/shorter wings?

  5. sunshineupyours1

    From what I’ve heard people say in the past, size is the most obvious difference. The invasive ones are huge

  6. Bellemorda

    its a male non-invasive, beneficial mantis.

  7. earthmama88

    I love the iNaturalist app for this too!

  8. EwwCringe

    post this in r/whatsthisbug , r/insects and r/Entomology

  9. studmuffin2269

    Where are you? It’s tough to tell if it’s native or not without location

  10. At first I couldn’t see your location was CT and I was going to say it’s native somewhere!

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