Appearance
Adult females are 47 to 60 millimeters in length while adult males are usually about 54 millimeters in length.1st instar nymphs are 7-12 millimeters in length. When the nymphs eat more their abdomens get much longer. The Carolina mantis has a dusty brown, gray, or green color useful as camouflage in certain environments.
The Carolina mantis' color varies because the nymphs are able to adjust their color, to match the environment they are in, at the time of molting. They can adjust their color over each molt, if necessary, until they reach their final molt to adulthood. An unusual trait is that its wings only extend three quarters of the way down the abdomen in mature females, seen also in "Iris oratoria", which can be distinguished by the large eyespots on its inner wings.
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