Carolina Praying Mantis
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- Carolina Praying Mantis 10-2-12
Most people think of the Chinese Mantis when they hear the words “praying mantis”. The Chinese Praying Mantis is green and slender and they are not native. People buy them because they want to put them in their gardens to eat bad bugs. It is not good to bring non-native bugs into our country because it can cause problems for native species.
The Carolina Praying Mantis is a native mantis. They are mostly brownish gray. The males have slender bodies and long wings. The females have large abdomens and short wings but can’t fly. The Carolina Praying Mantis has a hard time competing with the larger Chinese Mantis for food and territory.
Praying mantises eat all kings of bugs. In gardens they eat both good and bad bugs.
source: nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/praying-mantises
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- Carolina Praying Mantis playing in my hair. 10-2-12
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- Female Carolina Praying Mantis have big abdomens. 10-17-14
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- Carolina Praying Mantis eating my finger. 10-17-14
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- Their front legs are strong and will hold its prey tight while it’s eating. 10-17-14
