What do praying mantises eat?
They catch a wide range of prey, including other insects. They do not distinguish garden pests from pollinators or other beneficial insects.
What is a mantis egg case?
An ootheca is the protective case around a group of eggs. Some common mantises attach these cases to stems and twigs.
Do baby mantises look like adults?
Nymphs resemble smaller adults but lack fully developed adult wings. Several mantis species occur in North America, so body color alone is not enough to name one.
Try one observation
Watch from one spot and record the position of the front legs. Describe a movement only if you actually see it.
Observe without handling or collecting. These clues are a starting point, not a confirmed identification.