European mantis
| European mantis | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image European_mantis.png Image:European_mantis.png Mantis religiosa | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Mantis religiosa Linnaeus, 1758 |
The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is one of the most common species of the order Mantodea. 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 north-eastern America (east of the Mississippi River) to Ontario, Canada. The European mantis is usually 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.
Reference
Watkins, Gary. Praying Mantids http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef418.htm