Top 14 Most Fascinating Facts About the Praying Mantis

This insect is a formidable predator. It has a triangular head perched on a long neck, capable of rotating 180 degrees to scan its surroundings using its large compound eyes and three smaller simple eyes in between. The most common colors of the praying mantis are green or brown, helping it blend seamlessly into the plants it inhabits. The mantis patiently waits in ambush, using its forelegs to swiftly snatch its prey with a speed so rapid that it is almost invisible to the human eye. These forelegs are equipped with spikes to grab and secure the prey in place.

In particular, the orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus), with its flower-like appearance, takes advantage of this mimicry to lure and capture prey with ease. In fact, the orchid mantis not only resembles a flower but is even more beautiful than some real flowers. Researchers believe the insect's unique camouflage comes from the structure of its legs, which resemble orchid petals. The petal-like legs distract prey, while the serrated edges of its forelegs are used to grasp and hold the prey. The orchid mantis is considered one of the best camouflaged creatures in the animal kingdom. It typically resides in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia.

While the mantis' forelegs appear strong and intimidating, they are not used for defense. The primary defense strategy of this insect is camouflage, blending into its environment to deceive potential threats.

Some mantis species respond to danger by rapidly flapping their wings, making their bodies appear larger in an attempt to intimidate the enemy.

Though mantises can bite, they are not venomous. They can fall prey to larger predators like frogs, snakes, and other reptiles. Even dogs and cats may swallow them, so it’s important to be cautious if you keep a praying mantis as a pet.

Autumn is the peak mating season for the praying mantis. After mating, the female consumes the male to gain extra nutrients for egg production. The female then attaches her egg sac to a leaf or branch. The eggs overwinter and hatch in early spring or early summer when the temperature rises.

The life cycle of a mantis begins with an egg, laid before winter. After mating, the female fertilizes and lays between 100 to 400 eggs. These eggs are placed in a safe location, such as on a hard leaf or at the base of a tree, or within an egg case called an ootheca. The case is securely attached to a branch and provides a tough, protective shell capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. While the eggs remain dormant through the winter, the larvae will hatch in mid-spring when the warmth of the season prompts them to break through the egg shell (usually within 3 to 10 weeks).

Newly hatched nymphs are around 4mm long. They need time to develop and grow into their adult form. During this phase, they feed and molt several times over the course of a few months before reaching maturity.

Female mantises sometimes eat their mates immediately after, or even during, copulation. Despite this, it doesn’t seem to hinder the male's ability to reproduce. The female typically lays hundreds of eggs in an ootheca, which will gradually hatch into mantis nymphs that resemble miniature versions of their parents.

The praying mantis undergoes incomplete metamorphosis, which consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The time it takes to complete the life cycle depends on the surrounding temperature.

Egg: The mantis' life cycle begins with an egg, laid before winter. After mating, the female fertilizes the eggs and produces between 100 and 400 eggs. The eggs are placed in a safe spot, such as on a tough leaf or at the base of a tree, and may also be contained in an egg case called an ootheca. The ootheca is securely attached to a branch, and its tough exterior provides protection against harsh weather conditions. The eggs stay dormant during the winter, but by mid-spring, the larvae will hatch after breaking through the egg casing (usually in 3 to 10 weeks).

Nymph: When they first hatch, nymphs are pale and will stay near the egg case for a while. During this phase, they may cannibalize one another for nourishment. Once they disperse, they begin hunting small insects like fruit flies. The nymphs undergo several growth stages, shedding their exoskeletons through molting. This process allows them to grow larger with each molt. Nymphs will molt about six times before transitioning to the next stage of life. During this stage, they are vulnerable to larger predators like bats, birds, and spiders, and not all nymphs survive.

Sub-adult: The sub-adult stage is a transitional phase where mantises closely resemble adults but are not yet fully mature. Some body functions remain incomplete. They may molt during this phase, which differentiates them from fully mature mantises. Sub-adults are slower and often refrain from feeding during this time. After each molt, they are more susceptible to external threats and need to hide in a safe place for several hours to avoid becoming prey. The molting process ends in early summer when the mantis becomes fully matured and hardens into an adult.

Adult: Adult mantises typically range from 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 cm) in length, depending on the species. Females can be easily distinguished by their larger abdomen and overall bigger size compared to males. In addition to small insects, adult mantises may also hunt birds, small rodents, lizards, and tree frogs. One fascinating behavior is observed during mating: after copulation, the female often decapitates the male, believing that the loss of his head decreases her sexual frustration. After mating, the female consumes the rest of the male's body. During the breeding season, the female quickly seeks a safe place to lay her eggs, creating an ootheca with hundreds of eggs. The cycle continues as new mantis nymphs emerge, and the adult female dies after laying her eggs.

The body coloration of the praying mantis often serves as camouflage, blending in with the colors of plants and its environment. It typically comes in three main colors as mentioned earlier. They are most commonly found on large trees and shrubs, rather than on grass-like plants.

Distribution:

• Vietnam: Found throughout Vietnam, with recorded sightings in Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh. This species is the only mantis in Vietnam to be included in the Red List.
• Global: A widely distributed species found in temperate and tropical regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, and even in North America and Australia.

This insect is largely beneficial as it preys on harmful pests, particularly aphids (Aphididae). It also contributes to the beauty of nature. However, it occasionally preys on honeybees and other beneficial insects.

The praying mantis is considered more of a benefit than a nuisance, as it targets pests without damaging crops. In China, the observation of mantises hunting led to the development of a martial art called Tang Lang Quan.

To date, at least 2,000 species have been discovered in tropical areas, with only 18 species found in North America. Praying mantises from the Mantidae family make up around 80% of the Mantodea order.

It is not easy to find a native praying mantis in the United States. The Chinese Mantis (Tenodera aridifolia) was first spotted near Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) nearly 80 years ago, growing up to 10 cm long.

The European Mantis (Mantis religiosa), which is light green in color, is half the size of the Chinese Mantis. It was first found in Rochester (New York) almost a century ago.

Both the Chinese and European mantises now live in the U.S.

Three insect species are considered to share a common ancestor: the praying mantis, cockroaches, and termites. Entomologists who study these insects recognize the close evolutionary ties between them.

If you try to approach a praying mantis from behind, you might be startled when it turns its head to face you. No other insect is capable of this! The praying mantis has a flexible joint between its head and thorax, allowing it to rotate its head. This ability, along with its elongated face and forelegs always poised forward, often evokes fear in observers.

As a carnivorous insect, the praying mantis primarily resides in various parts of Asia. Many entomologists believe it shares a close evolutionary relationship with cockroaches, grasshoppers, and crickets. The mantis can observe a large area due to its ability to rotate its head 180 degrees.

In addition to its large eyes, it also has three smaller eyes in the middle, enhancing its ability to detect prey. This capability allows the mantis to quickly recognize predators and prey, responding with appropriate action. Furthermore, it has excellent camouflage, blending seamlessly with green foliage. The praying mantis is also known for its cannibalistic behavior, with female mantises often consuming the male after mating.

As a member of the mantis family, the orchid mantis primarily inhabits tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia and is considered one of the best camouflage artists in the animal kingdom. At first glance, it is hard to distinguish this mantis from an orchid flower. Not only does it share the vibrant colors of an orchid's petals, but its movements mimic the gentle sway of flower petals in the wind.

Its four legs resemble orchid petals, while the forelegs are serrated, similar to other mantid species, used for capturing prey. The orchid mantis can change its coloration up to 90 different hues, ranging from pink to brown, depending on the flower's color. Despite its delicate appearance, this mantis is aggressive and can inflict minor injuries on humans.

The orchid mantis exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males being about half the size of females. Popular among insect breeders, it is rare and expensive. It requires only a small space and catches flying insects by sitting and waiting. The orchid mantis is able to change between 90 colors, from pink to brown, depending on the orchid it mimics. Males are believed to mature faster than females, except when the temperature drops to 15-18°C. Females grow most rapidly in high temperatures and humidity, between 30-55°C.

A praying mantis has two pairs of large eyes that work together to help it process visual signals. However, this insect is equipped with only one ear located on its underside, near the forelegs. This means the mantis cannot determine the direction of sound. What it can detect, however, is ultrasonic sounds, such as those produced by bats using echolocation.

Studies have shown that praying mantises are quite adept at avoiding bats. When a mantis in flight detects the echolocation signals, it will abruptly stop, drop into freefall, and hide in the underbrush to evade the predator.

However, not all mantises rely on their hearing, and species that don’t typically fly don’t need to evade airborne predators like bats.

The first fossilized mantises date back to the Cretaceous period, about 146-66 million years ago. These primitive mantis specimens lacked certain features found in modern mantises, such as the elongated pronotum or neck, and lacked the spiny forelegs that are characteristic of today’s species.

It is indeed true that female praying mantises sometimes eat their mates. In certain cases, the female may even kill her mate before the mating process is completed. Interestingly, a male mantis is considered an ideal mate, as its brain controls its mating behavior separately from the abdominal ganglion, allowing the actual mating process to take place.

However, most instances of cannibalism occur in laboratory settings. In the wild, scientists estimate that there is a 30% chance that a male mantis will be eaten by the female during mating.

Praying mantises are predatory creatures, and their primary prey consists of other arthropods. In nature, they only hunt live prey, but they are known for being passive, ambush hunters, often waiting motionless to surprise their prey.

Despite their passive hunting style, mantises are known for having a varied diet. Their prey may include lizards, frogs, small birds, fish, and even other mantises.

As such, it is not uncommon for a male mantis to become the prey of a female. This cannibalistic behavior provides the female with additional protein, which is absorbed by her body and used to nurture the fertilized eggs. In other words, the act of consuming the male ensures that the offspring receive important nutrients directly from their unfortunate father.

Here are some additional fascinating facts about mantises you might not know:

• Female mantises often cannibalize their mates during or after mating
• Mantises can capture their prey in the blink of an eye
• Occasionally, mantises even attack hummingbirds
• In ancient cultures, mantises were revered and worshipped
• Mantises have bulging eyes and can rotate their heads 180 degrees
• After consuming their prey, mantises immediately clean their forelegs
• Praying mantises are carnivorous and exclusively consume live insects
• Mantises sometimes engage in cannibalism, eating their own kind.

The praying mantis, also known as the mantis, is a large and diverse group within the insect world, comprising around 2,200 species across 9 families. The Mantidae family is the largest and most diverse. Mantises can thrive in both tropical and temperate climates. Let’s take a closer look at their characteristics, behaviors, reproduction, and distribution.

This order of insects first appeared around 20 million years ago. They are relatively large, measuring 40–80 mm in length, with two pairs of wings. The hindwings resemble thin sheets of glass, and the forewings are usually green or light brown.

The forebody is elongated and cylindrical, with a black dot near the base of the forelegs, often with a pale brown spot in the middle. The forelegs are equipped with sharp, tooth-like edges used to capture prey and defend against predators. Females are typically larger than males (females range from 48–76 mm; males range from 40–61 mm). Their color can change depending on their environment, often blending in with green, brown, or yellow surroundings, especially when hunting.

Additional descriptive information:

• Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa
• Family: Mantidae
• Order: Mantoptera
• Group: Insects
• Average Lifespan: 1 year

The praying mantis (Pray Mantid) is named after its distinctive posture, which resembles a prayerful pose, with its front legs raised in a position as if in prayer.

Its front legs are equipped with sharp spines, which serve as weapons to capture and hold prey. The mantis's head can rotate up to 300 degrees, providing a wide field of vision without the need to move its body. As hunters, mantises rely heavily on their vision, which is why they are active primarily during the day.

Close relatives of the mantis include termites and cockroaches, and at times, these three species are even classified together in the same order, rather than being given separate suborders. This classification is still a subject of debate among biologists.

Both young and adult mantises feed on a variety of small insects, such as flies, butterflies, larvae, beetles, ants, and cockroaches. During the summer and winter, when insects are scarce, mantises often resort to feeding on young leaves. Adult mantises have been known to consume small birds, lizards, snakes, and even rodents. They usually wait motionless on tree trunks or branches, waiting for prey to pass by. Once it does, the mantis strikes quickly with its spiny front legs, trapping the prey. Interestingly, the prey does not die immediately, and the mantis feeds on it while it is still alive. This predatory behavior is unique to mantises, as they never consume dead prey. Additionally, it’s common for female mantises to cannibalize their mates, either during or shortly after mating.

The praying mantis is a carnivorous creature, a formidable predator in the wild, consuming virtually anything it can capture. Its primary food sources are small insects such as flies, mosquitoes, bees, beetles, and cockroaches. In times of food scarcity, they may even resort to cannibalism.

Mantises hunt using an ambush tactic, waiting for prey to come within reach. With astonishing speed, they strike, capturing their prey with their powerful front legs before devouring it. Some larger species of mantis will prey on bigger animals like fish, spiders, birds, snakes, and even rodents.

If you're keeping a mantis as a pet, you can feed it the following items:

• Fruit flies
• Flour beetles
• Small caterpillars
• Fly larvae
• Moths
• Crickets
• Grasshoppers