Praying Mantis

Description:

Praying mantis is named this way because of its prominent front legs, angled in the praying position. These insects are predators. Their physiology is very interesting with a triangular head poised on a long neck, or elongated thorax. Their heads have the ability to turn 180 degrees. They have two large eyes and three simple small once in between them. They are green or brown color skin which is a great way to camouflage according to their environment. The prominent front legs equipped with spikes serve them to snare on their prey and pin it in place. They prey on flies, grasshoppers, moths and other insects including their own kind. This unusual behavior happens mostly during matting, when the female eats the male during or after the reproduction process. Mantodea lay hundreds of eggs, and the offspring look like their parents.

Habitat:

We can find praying mantis in bushy fields and gardens, tropical and temperate rainforests; Northern Africa, Southern Europe, Asia, and North America.