Bugland: Bonjour, Suave Fella

The European mantis certainly looks chic and debonair, but that’s not why it has the name. Nor do these species of praying mantis live only in Europe – they are right here in Park Hill as well. They are simply a bit larger than other species of mantis. As the website Keeping Insects notes, the European mantis is always light green, with little variation in color tone. Most praying mantis have small dots or specks on the inside of their front legs. The European Mantis also has these spots, as well as a black spot with a white dot in the middle above. This mimics the eye of a predator. Photo by Mark Silverstein