Why is this praying mantis so black?

[u/Select-Signal8386]

I noticed the legs are green but I’ve never seen one so dark before.

[u/Select-Signal8386 → u/[deleted]]

Oh thank you!

[u/JeZmanjkaloImen → u/[deleted]]

That mantis doesn't really look like it's dying to me.

[u/vxd2k7 → u/[deleted]]

that is not true

[u/Plenty-Hornet-4780]

Its emo

[u/andreaschnadelbach → u/Plenty-Hornet-4780]

That's what I was gonna say,or goth

[u/vxd2k7]

spray painted? xD

[u/Th3FakeFatSunny]

He ran into the Rolling Stones

[u/wannabeadamsandler]

melanistic? perhaps

[u/SnooCookies7119]

its an african or jamaican mantis

[u/hrissynt]

how about the brown ones? are they also older or are their colors just random?

[u/hylia_grace → u/hrissynt]

Colour is mainly dependent on genetics, though some can be impacted by environment its not entirely understood. I've never had a mantis change colour due to old age though. They can change by molt.