Also known as the lichen mimic mantid or Florida bark mantid, Gonatista grisea is very well camouflaged — I would never have noticed this 10mm baby if it had not moved! (When it’s grown, it will only be about 35-40mm long.) Their coloring resembles that of lichen, and they are practically invisible on tree bark….
Category: Mantids (Mantodea)
Carolina Mantis Nymph
Less than 7 mm long, this newly emerged mantis nymph is already “praying” — or, rather, preying — standing in a high spot and waving gently back and forth like the stick it will someday resemble, waiting for something interesting to fly in reach. I can’t be 100% sure with a single photo of a…