Ground Mantis vs Creeping Water Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ground Mantis Creeping Water Bug
Scientific Name Litaneutria minor Ilyocoris cimicoides
Order Mantodea Hemiptera
Family Mantidae Naucoridae
Size 15-25 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Heathland Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Ground Mantis

The smallest North American mantis, well camouflaged on dry rocky soil.

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Did You Know?

It hunts by running on the ground rather than using a typical sit-and-wait strategy.

Creeping Water Bug

A robust aquatic bug that crawls along pond bottoms and delivers a painful bite.

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Did You Know?

Its forelegs are powerfully built raptorial limbs for seizing prey.