A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Mantodea
It is widely believed that it kills only 'harmful' insects, but this is NOT true. The mantis does not discriminate between harmful or not. There are about 1,800 mantis species in the world. Two species found widely in the USA are the imported Chinese mantis 8-13 cm (3-5 inches) long and the native Carolina mantis, about 5 cm (2 inches) long. Scientists disagree about how to classify these insects of the family Mantidae. Some group them with grasshoppers in the order Dictyoptera. Others put them in an order (group) of their own - Mantodea.
Found in the south eastern section of the Sebastian Preserve, close to a nearby black snake. Cool fact! -It was believed that the praying mantis was deaf until, in 1986, a sensitive and specialized hearing organ was discovered on the insect's abdomen. Studies have shown that mantises can dramatically respond to ultrasonic pulses like those used by echolocating bats. It is the only creature known to have one ear, instead of two.
Spotted on Sep 28, 2011
Submitted on Oct 7, 2011
