This praying mantis has been a regular in our yard for the last few weeks.
It might have hatched out of an egg case like this one.
Here’s a short video of a praying mantis hatching. As you can see, newly-hatched praying mantids look like miniature adults.
Edit:
Just found a cool new book recommended by the NSTA.
Praying Mantises: Hungry Insect Heroes (Insect World)
by Sandra Markle
So, mantises is the correct plural now? I had learned it as mantids…
