California Praying Mantis - Stagmomantis californica

The Praying Mantis is very good at not being noticed. They can hold very still for long periods of time and they change color to match their background. The neck of the Praying Mantis is the most flexible of any insect. Underneath the skin of the neck it looks like a corrugated tube. The head will swivel to face anything that approaches. This mantis is about 2.5 inches long. That is about as big as any of this species will get. I am impressed by the spines on the arms of the Praying Mantis. I have seen kinder and gentler roses. The Praying mantis is one of the best beneficial insects. They will eat almost anything and quite a lot of it.