Field Guide

(Here's an easy reference guide you can print out if you encounter a mantis in the Northeastern United States.)

Mantis ("man-tis")

Common Name: Chinese Mantis

Scientific Name: Tenodera sinensis

Aliases: Praying mantis, praying mantid, mantid, giant Asian mantis

Size: 4" to 5" inches

Occurrence: Late spring through mid-autumn.

Range: Eastern and Central U.S; China, and surrounding Asian countries.

Habitat: Old fields, farmlands, meadows, ditches, along roadsides, and gardens.

Characteristics: Females are larger than males and are known to be cannibalistic. They are able to turn their triangular heads 180 degrees, have large compound eyes, and enlarged front legs designed for grasping prey. They appear to be "praying" when rearing upright in a striking stance. These are very ferocious predators that are known to kill numerous species of insects and smaller animals such as mice, moles, snakes, and hummingbirds. They can be common around urban dwellings.

Distinguishing Marks: They have long slender bodies that vary in color from brown, green, tan, or teal. Their faces are marked with a vertical striping pattern and have a yellow spot located between their large front legs on what appears to be a "blood stained" thorax. Their outer wings have a green lateral stripe that, when folded, run lengthwise along their abdomens.

NOTE: There is another introduced Asian species of mantid that looks very similar to that of the common Chinese Mantis. It is called the Narrow Winged Mantis "Tenodera angustipennis." It's is slightly smaller, less stocky, and has an orange spot located between its front les on the thorax. This species prefers higher perches and its distribution is more isolated to the Eastern United States.

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Common Name: European Mantis

Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa

Aliases: Praying mantis, praying mantid, mantid, soothsayer, devil's horse, & mule killer (This is the species that was originally called the "Praying Mantis" but its famous alias is now used for almost all other species too.)

Size: 2" to 2 1/2" inches

Occurrence: Late spring through mid-autumn.

Range: Eastern and Central U.S; Southern Canada, Europe, parts of Asia, and south into Africa.

Habitat: Old fields, farmlands, meadows, ditches, along roadsides, and gardens. Prefers lower grasses and weeds where they stalk ground dwelling creatures. Ootheca have a more oblong shape and are also often found on low vegetation, rocks, and fence posts.

Characteristics: Similar to that of the Chinese Mantis. Very ferocious predators that are known to attack creatures more than twice their size! They can be found around urban dwellings. This species hatches later than the Chinese Mantis but matures faster. They are also not as common or abundant as the Chinese Mantis but are better flyers.

Distinguishing Marks: Bodies are long and slender and can also vary in color from brown, green, tan, or gray. They are marked with a black bullseye pattern located on inside of their upper front legs encircling a white spot. The lower halve of their front legs are often a lighter orange color.

Chinese Mantis

"Tenodera sinensis"

European Mantis

"Mantis religiosa"