Two To Tango?

A pair of mantises.

I think they’re thinking about mating. Male below, female above.

But, um, there’s a problem here. These are actually two different species. The female is a European Mantis/Mantis religiosa; identified by the white oval spot surround by black on the upper forelimbs. The male is a Chinese Mantis/Tenodera sinensis; not as easily seen in this photo, but there’s an identifying yellow mark between his forelimbs.

Do they hybridize?

This is the first time I’ve seen the Mantis here in Green-Wood. I’ve heard reports of them here lately. The Tenodera, one of two species of this genus found here, is a standard sighting. All three species are introductions.

Incidentally, in reading something unrelated recently I learned that “mantis” comes from the ancient Greek for “seer.”