Carolina...with unusual coloration

[bugboymark]

Was on the road late last summer and stopped at a place about 2 hrs south of Chicago.  Noticed this nymph feeding on a fly.  Definitely looks like L7 female Stagmomantis carolina...but it was such an unusual color.  Almost bright yellow with some really light tan (almost orange) patches.  I've seen a lot of color patterns on Carolinas before.  Mottled gray, green, all shades of brown, green brown combinations...but this one was so cool looking!  If I hadn't been on the road heading south (on a really hot day), I would have plucked this girl and brought her home.  But it wasn't feasible on that trip.  Still love looking at the photo though. 

I've done a little research about it possibly being a different species...but it doesn't seem likely.  Maybe someone else has an opinion though....

 

[CosbyArt]

Very interesting coloration on that Carolina mantis, I don't think I've come across one that yellow before either. Too bad you didn't have a chance to take it with you to see what coloration the next molt would be.

Near the Chicago area the only other species similar to the Carolina would be the European mantis (Mantis religiosa); however, the thorax looks wrong on several points for that species (and the body overall as well). Of course to be 100% sure the two easy identifiers would be the single black spots on the outer wings of an adult, or looking at the eye spot coloration on the interior raptorial forearms/legs - but neither are possible in a single photo of a nymph from this angle.

 

[minomantis]

That is a very cool Carolina mantis!! I've read that Carolina mantids can have crazy patterns so that cool that you found one that was different! 

I also love looking at old pictures of my mantis! Makes me feel good!