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Fossil Praying Mantis from Colorado
The Green River formation is loaded with a variety of fish, insect, and
plant fossils from the Eocene. See my
Green River insects page for more details. Every insect fossil is unique,
but there are some fossils that are rarer than others.
Now here is a praying mantis fossil on matrix. There are pictures of mantids in
amber on the internet, but as far as my research shows, this is the only
complete praying mantis fossil on matrix on the net. Praying mantids fall into
the Order Mantodea.
This piece is unique and the mantis is very well preserved. You can clearly see
the head and eyes, the arms and legs, and part of the two wings.
A very neat fossil, and I'm happy to be the first to show it on the net.
Overall view of the praying mantis. Note the eyes and wings.
Close-up of head and arms. As noted, the arms are in the traditional pose.
Size in millimeters.
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