How do you make the praying mantis arms?

Cut long, serrated pincer shapes out of green cardboard or EVA foam. Fold them in half to mimic the joint, and secure them to your forearms with elastic bands.

What is the best color for a mantis costume?

Bright lime green or kelly green is the most recognizable, but you can also use brown or tan to represent a dead-leaf mantis.

How do you make the bulging mantis eyes?

Cut two plastic toy balls in half, paint them green or black, and glue them to a green headband or hood.

AI-generated example

Mantis Costume

Embrace your inner apex predator with a striking green praying mantis look.

While some may look for the Marvel superhero, this guide focuses on the classic praying mantis insect costume, famous for its bright green color and folded forearms. It is a highly creative, unique choice for nature lovers, school plays, or Halloween. The look centers on a vibrant green base, a triangular headpiece with bulging eyes, and structured pincer arms.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~60 min
Budget: $25–85

See yourself as Mantis →What you need Buy the Mantis costume

Try it on

See yourself as Mantis

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

Choose or drop a photo of yourselfJPG · PNG · HEIC

One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.

Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.

Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.

Mantis costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Mantis

Result

What you need for a Mantis costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Mantis costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.

Shop Mantis at Spirit ↗

Green bodysuit or jumpsuit
A solid kelly green or lime green long-sleeve bodysuit, jumpsuit, or matching shirt and leggings set.
DIY: Use a matching green long-sleeve t-shirt and green sweatpants from your closet.
Amazon
Mantis headpiece
A green hood or headband featuring two large, bulging green or black eyes and small antennae.
DIY: Glue two halves of painted green plastic ball-pit balls and green pipe cleaners onto a green headband.
Amazon
DIY pincer forearms
Serrated, jointed green forearms that mimic the folded praying posture of the insect.
DIY: Cut pincer shapes out of green poster board or EVA foam, fold them to create a joint, and attach them to your forearms with green elastic bands.
Amazon
Extra insect legs
Four thin, jointed green legs attached to the sides of the torso to complete the six-legged insect anatomy.
DIY: Wrap green felt or fabric around wire hangers, bend them into jointed leg shapes, and safety-pin them to the sides of your shirt.
Amazon
Green gloves
Simple green fabric gloves to keep your hands matching the rest of the insect body.
DIY: Use green winter gloves or paint your hands with green body paint.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Mantis costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the green bodysuit or matching green shirt and pants as your base layer.
2
Secure the extra insect legs to the sides of your torso using heavy-duty safety pins or a belt.
3
Slip the DIY pincer forearms onto your lower arms, securing them with the elastic bands so your hands remain free.
4
Put on the green gloves to blend your hands into the arm structure.
5
Place the mantis headpiece or hood on your head, ensuring the bulging eyes sit prominently on top.
6
Finish the look with green, black, or neutral-colored shoes.

Makeup & hair

Tuck your hair completely under the headpiece or hood. If your face is visible, apply green face paint around your eyes and cheeks to blend in with the green costume.

Mantis for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up with someone dressed as a gardener, a pest control worker, or a giant orchid flower.
group: Create a backyard bug group with friends dressed as ladybugs, bumblebees, caterpillars, and spiders.
kids: Use a green hooded sweatshirt, glue felt eyes to the hood, and attach felt pincers directly to the sleeves.
Plus size: A stretchy green two-piece jogger set provides a comfortable, breathable base for attaching the foam limbs.
pet: A lightweight green dog harness fitted with soft felt legs and a small elastic strap-on headpiece.

Tips

Attach the pincer arms to your forearms rather than your hands so you can easily hold drinks, phones, or treats.
Keep the extra legs lightweight by using foam or wire-stiffened felt so they do not drag the costume down.
If wearing this outdoors in cool weather, choose a fleece-lined green base layer to stay warm.

Mantis costume FAQ

How do you make the praying mantis arms?: Cut long, serrated pincer shapes out of green cardboard or EVA foam. Fold them in half to mimic the joint, and secure them to your forearms with elastic bands.
What is the best color for a mantis costume?: Bright lime green or kelly green is the most recognizable, but you can also use brown or tan to represent a dead-leaf mantis.
How do you make the bulging mantis eyes?: Cut two plastic toy balls in half, paint them green or black, and glue them to a green headband or hood.

Did you know? Praying mantises are the only insects capable of turning their heads a full 180 degrees to scan their surroundings.