Praying Mantises

What Do Praying Mantises Look Like?

Praying mantises have a distinctive appearance that makes them easily recognizable. Their elongated bodies, triangular heads, and raptorial (grasping) forelegs give them a unique and predatory look. Here are some of their physical characteristics:

General Appearance:

• Body Shape: Slender and elongated, often resembling twigs, leaves, or flowers for camouflage.
• Head: Triangular with large, compound eyes and a small mouth. Their heads are highly flexible and can rotate up to 180 degrees, allowing them to scan their surroundings.
• Eyes: Prominent and well-developed, providing excellent vision for detecting movement.
• Antennae: Vary in length; typically longer and thinner in males, shorter in females.
• Forelegs: Modified into powerful, spiked "raptorial legs" used to grab and hold prey.
• Middle & Hind Legs: Used for walking and stability; some species can jump.
• Wings: Many species have wings, but not all can fly. Males are usually better fliers than females.

Color Variations:

Praying mantises come in a range of colors, usually adapted to their environment:

• Green: The most common color, ideal for blending into grass and foliage.
• Brown/Tan: Helps species resemble dead leaves or tree bark.
• White/Pink/Purple: Seen in species like the Orchid Mantis, mimicking flowers.

Size:

• Small species: Around 1 inch (e.g., Ghost Mantis).
• Medium species: 2–4 inches (e.g., Carolina Mantis, European Mantis).
• Large species: 5–6 inches (e.g., Chinese Mantis, Giant Asian Mantis).

Notable Mimicry Adaptations:

• Leaf-Like Mantises: Some species, like the Dead Leaf Mantis, have rough, veined exoskeletons to resemble dried leaves.
• Flower Mimics: The Orchid Mantis has petal-like structures to blend in with flowers.
• Stick-Like Mantises: Some mantises resemble twigs to avoid detection.

Where Are Praying Mantises Found?

Praying mantises are found in a variety of habitats worldwide, particularly in warm, temperate, and tropical regions. Their camouflage and hunting techniques make them well-suited to environments with plenty of plant cover and insect prey. Here are some of the best places to find them:

Gardens & Backyards

• Commonly found on bushes, flowers, and vegetable plants, where they hunt for insects.
• Attracted to pollinator-friendly plants like marigolds, lavender, and sunflowers.
• Often seen clinging to stems, leaves, or fences in the late summer and fall.

Forests & Woodlands

• Prefer areas with dense vegetation, where they can hide among leaves and branches.
• Found on tree trunks, under leaves, or in low-lying shrubs.
• Some species, like the Dead Leaf Mantis, blend into the forest floor.

Grasslands & Fields

• Found in tall grasses and wildflowers, waiting to ambush prey.
• More active in open, sunlit areas where insect populations are high.
• Often spotted clinging to stalks of grass or grain crops.

Farms & Agricultural Fields

• Beneficial to farmers because they eat crop-damaging pests.
• Often found in cornfields, vineyards, and orchards.
• May be intentionally introduced for natural pest control.

Wetlands & Tropical Rainforests

• Some exotic species, like the Orchid Mantis, live in humid jungles.
• Found on flowering plants, mimicking petals to ambush pollinators.
• Thrive in areas with high insect diversity.

Urban & Suburban Areas

• Sometimes found on window screens, porches, or fences.
• Can be seen on potted plants or garden furniture.
• May appear near outdoor lights, where prey insects gather.

Desert & Arid Regions

• Some species, like the Thistle Mantis, are adapted to dry environments.
• Found on succulents, cacti, and dry shrubs.
• Blend in with sand-colored or spiky vegetation.

Best Time to Spot Praying Mantises

• Most active in late summer and early fall when they reach adulthood.
• Typically hunt during the day, though some species are more active at dusk.

What Do Praying Mantises Eat?

Praying mantises are carnivorous insects with voracious appetites, known for preying on a wide range of other arthropods and even small vertebrates. Their diet primarily consists of live prey that they can ambush and capture using their spiked, raptorial forelegs. Here’s what they typically eat:

Common Prey

• Insects: Mantises primarily feed on flies, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, beetles, and caterpillars. These are their main food sources in gardens and natural habitats.
• Arachnids: They will also eat spiders and smaller mantises—including members of their own species, especially during mating or food shortages (a behavior known as cannibalism).
• Pollinators: Praying mantises often catch bees, wasps, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that visit flowers.

Larger or Unusual Prey

• Small Vertebrates: Larger mantises, particularly tropical species, have been documented eating small frogs, lizards, birds (like hummingbirds), and even small rodents.
• Other Mantises: Cannibalism is common, particularly when food is scarce or during mating—females sometimes consume males after or even during copulation.

Feeding Behavior

Praying mantises are ambush predators, meaning they typically stay motionless and blend into their surroundings, waiting for prey to come within striking distance. When it does, they use lightning-fast reflexes to grab and immobilize it with their front legs before eating it alive, usually starting with the head.

In captivity, mantises are often fed live crickets, fruit flies, or small roaches to mimic their natural hunting behavior.

Praying Mantis Life Cycle

The life cycle of a praying mantis consists of three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. This process is called incomplete metamorphosis because they do not have a pupal stage like butterflies or beetles. The entire cycle typically takes several months to a year, depending on the species and environmental conditions.

Egg Stage (Ootheca)

• After mating, the female lays 100–400 eggs inside a protective foam-like structure called an ootheca.
• The ootheca hardens into a sturdy, brownish case, protecting the eggs from predators and harsh weather.
• Eggs remain in this stage for several weeks to months, with many overwintering and hatching in the spring.

Nymph Stage (Juvenile Mantises)

• When the eggs hatch, small, wingless nymphs emerge, looking like miniature versions of adult mantises.
• In many species, the first thing nymphs do is cannibalize their siblings if food is scarce.
• Nymphs go through multiple molts (shedding their exoskeleton) as they grow, typically 5–10 molts over several weeks or months.
• During this stage, they are voracious hunters, feeding on small insects like fruit flies and aphids.

Adult Stage (Mature Mantis)

• After their final molt, mantises develop fully functional wings (in most species) and are capable of reproduction.
• Adults are larger, stronger hunters, preying on bigger insects and even small vertebrates (frogs, lizards, or hummingbirds in rare cases).
• The lifespan of an adult mantis is typically 6–12 months, though some tropical species may live longer.

Mating & Reproduction

• Males seek out females, often at dusk or night.
• In some species, sexual cannibalism occurs, where the female may eat the male after or even during mating.
• Females lay multiple oothecae throughout their lifespan, ensuring the next generation.

Seasonal Cycle

• In temperate climates, mantises hatch in spring, grow through summer, and die in fall.
• The eggs survive winter and repeat the cycle the next year.