She came in yesterday and refused to eat a beetle, i thought she was injured bc she was missing an antenna. Left the screen door open and went to sleep and there's an egg now. I'm in Europe and they might be invasive in my area i'm not 100% sure, should i freeze them?
It actually looks like a Hierodula Tenuindentata (or at least Hierodula Sp.) to me and those are actually invasive to Europe. Notice the two yellow spots on the wings and the larger head in comparison to its body, as well as the shape of the ootheca.
Here's a picture of a praying mantis I saw just today, notice the smaller head in comparison to the body and no spots on the wings. Praying mantises also have distinct bullseyes (only very slightly visible on my picture) on their raptorial legs.
The top of Mantis religiosa's head bulges, giving it a rounded shape, as seen in yours and OP'S picture.
The head of Hierodula is triangular because the silhouette of the head between both eyes is straight.
Although you are right about the rest.
I've seen pictures of M.religiosa with a stigma, sometimes without. But it's definitely common in H. transcaucasica (I think H. t. and H. tenuientata were merged?)
Of course, it would be good to have a picture of the forelegs. That would... solve the whole problem.
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u/AppointmentNo3747 36m ago edited 22m ago
I don’t think this is mantis religiosa. Note the maculae on the wings, this is obviously hierodula.