Female Carolina Mantis

Subject:  Looks like a preying mantis but it’s colorful?
Geographic location of the bug:  Bucks county, PA
Date: 09/28/2018
Time: 11:08 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  I saw this bug on my wood door frame. It was highly camouflaged. When I looked back it had all these colors. I couldn’t find one similar to it online and I’m so curious!
How you want your letter signed:  Shannon G

Female Carolina Mantis

Dear Shannon,
Based on the markings on the wings, we strongly suspect that this is a female Carolina Mantis,
Stagmomantis carolina, which is pictured on BugGuide.  Your image with her wings displayed are a wonderful addition, and we verified with this BugGuide image that the colorful flight wings she has are consistent with the color and markings for the species.  According to BugGuide:  “Mantids are most commonly seen in late summer and early fall. August-frost (eastern North Carolina).”

Female California Mantis

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