Insects make our gardens more interesting, and often healthier. One of the most mysterious and unique is the praying mantis. They look like a tiny dinosaur, and their “praying” forelegs are described as raptorial. They are indeed, great predators!

While there are over 2300 members of the Family Mantidae, most are tropical; two are found in Illinois. The Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is native to North America, and the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinesis) was introduced. The Chinese mantis was introduced late in the 19th century to control agricultural pests. There is little evidence that they have increased pest control, and may instead negatively impact the native Carolina mantis.

While both the Carolina and Chinese mantises can range in color from light green, to brown, to even gray, there are many differences between the two.

The Carolina mantis is generally 1 ½” to 2 ½” long. The Chinese mantis is much larger, 3 ¼” to 4 ¼” long. In both species, the female is noticeably larger than the male.

The egg sac, or ootheca (/oʊ.əˈθiːkə/  oh-a-thigh-kah), laid by both the Carolina and the Chinese mantis will overwinter and release tens to hundreds of tiny, perfect mantises in the following spring or early summer. They are both light, foamy looking structures, and are very different in appearance.

The Carolina Mantis ootheca has visible lines and ridges.

The Chinese Mantis ootheca is larger and looks foamy and less “formed”.

The nymphs will emerge en masse and look like very tiny models of their soon-to-be full-sized selves.  They will already be fierce predators, eating even their own siblings until they spread out and begin finding other prey. They start eating small insects like gnats and fruit flies. To grow, they molt, or shed their exoskeleton up to 10 times, becoming a bit larger each time. When they molt, they are softer and more vulnerable until their exoskeleton hardens again. By the time they are adults, they will eat moths, flies, bees, wasps, spiders, and other insects and arachnids. There is even a video circulating of a Chinese praying mantis eating a murder hornet!

Fun facts:

The male mantis has longer wings and a smaller abdomen and can fly and actively chase its prey.

The female mantis has shorter wings and a larger abdomen and cannot fly, although they can jump quite well. They generally lie in wait and ambush their prey.

When a mantis molts, it is very light colored. If you ever see a white mantis, it’s likely that it has just molted and its exoskeleton hasn’t hardened yet.

Each time a Carolina mantis molts, it can change color to its surroundings.

The female mantis may eat the male mantis after mating. 

Lastly, a not so fun fact, large Chinese Praying Mantises have been seen eating hummingbirds!

Every year we have a Carolina Mantis that takes up residence under the hummingbird feeder and while the hummingbirds and mantis eye each other up, the mantis eats only the wasps that frequent the feeder. It also ate a rather large wood spider one year.

Source: Master Naturalist Robbin Keenan

Do you have some additional questions for us? Remember you can email us, or call our University of Illinois County Extension Main Office at 815.224.0889. Please note that due to the COVID-19 epidemic, offices are closed until further notice.