European Mantis

Mantis religiosa

European Mantis

Mantis religiosa

Harmless

Not dangerous

Harmless. No venom, no sting. It is the mantis on which most of the folklore was built, and none of the folklore involves it hurting anyone.

SizeFemales 65–75 mm; males 50–60 mm

MarkingsA black-ringed spot inside the base of each foreleg — the decisive character · Medium build, 50–75 mm, between a Carolina and a Chinese mantis

WhereMeadow, rough grassland, gardens and roadside vegetation.

SeasonAdults late summer into autumn

How to tell it apart

A black-ringed spot inside the base of each foreleg — the decisive character
Medium build, 50–75 mm, between a Carolina and a Chinese mantis
Green or straw-brown, with a relatively short thorax
Both sexes fly, unlike the flightless female Carolina mantis
Egg case is a firm tan foam mass on a stem or wall

Where you’ll find it

Introduced to North America around 1899 and now established across the northeast, the Great Lakes and parts of the west.

Meadow, rough grassland, gardens and roadside vegetation.

Adults late summer into autumn.

How it behaves

The 'praying' posture that gives the whole group its name is the resting position of the raptorial forelegs, folded and ready rather than devout. This species will take prey up to about its own size and hunts by stillness — it can hold position for a very long time, swaying slightly in a way that reads as vegetation moving in wind. Like other mantises it has a single ear on the underside of the thorax, tuned to bat echolocation, and will drop out of the air in a spiral if it hears one.

You’ve found one indoors

Leave it. It is a capable garden predator, harmless to handle, and the adults are gone by winter regardless. If you find an egg case while tidying, relocate the whole stem outdoors rather than bringing it inside.

Common questions

How do I identify a European mantis for certain?

Look inside the base of the front legs, in the 'armpit'. A black-ringed spot, sometimes with a white centre, is present in this species and absent in the other mantises you will meet in North America.

Does the female always eat the male?

No. Sexual cannibalism happens and is far less universal than its reputation — it is much more common in captivity and under stress than in the field.

Can they hear?

Yes, through a single ear on the underside of the thorax, tuned to the frequencies bats use. A hunting mantis that hears a bat drops into a spiralling dive.

Commonly confused with

Chinese Mantis Harmless
Carolina Mantis Harmless

Keep identifying

Identify another animal from a photo or return to the Mantises guide.

Previous: Carolina Mantis · Next: Ghost Mantis

Where this was checked

iNaturalist — Mantis religiosa checked 2026-07-30

Last reviewed 2026-07-30. We identify, we don’t diagnose — what we can and can’t tell you.