ID help mantid!!!

[ghost_tomb]

Hi all just found this beauty at my local they think its an egyptian mantid but aren't those rather small?

 

[Jesse607]

Looks like the European mantid Mantis religiosa to me, but it is hard to tell from the picture. There are a lot of different medium sized green mantids.

 

[ghost_tomb]

thanks for the response, I've been told that its a member of the sphoddromantis sp? know anything about these?

Also mantids have wings BEFORE their final molt right? they just can't fly?

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

You need a copy of the mantis book! (A mantis with wings is always an adult and will not molt again).
http://www.elytraandantenna.com

 

[ghost_tomb]

oh so how long do the adults live for?

 

[Jesse607]

I'm fairly certain that it is not a member of the Sphodromantis genus. All of the mantids I've seen of this genus have a small "eyespot" on each wing and the females are very robust and stocky. If it is a European mantid expect it to live for another 1-3 months, possibly a little longer.

 

[ghost_tomb]

well she's (and it is a she) has flashed her wings at my once when i scared her and it scared the crap out of me

think she may have a red spot in her wings.

 

[Jesse607]

I meant that the spot is visible when the mantids wings are at rest. If it has an eyespot on each front leg near the "armpit", then it is likely a European mantis.