Subject: Insect clinging to the side of my house
Geographic location of the bug: Lakewood, WA
August 28, 2017 4:40 PM
Never saw one like this before. It’s been clinging to the side of my house for 3 hrs now. It is 2.5″ long.
How you want your letter signed: Beate Otto
Dear Beate Otto,
Based on this BugGuide image, we are confident this is a male European Mantis. According to BugGuide: “Widespread in the United States and in southeastern and southwestern Canada, but often not as common in hot humid or very dry climates as elsewhere. Generally not found in desert regions except in agricultural, urban, or otherwise artificially watered environments. Perhaps(?) not able to overwinter in north-central US and south-central Canada. It can be expected almost anywhere, because it is often sold as egg cases for pest control in gardens, even in places where it cannot survive long term.”