Praying Mantis FactsThere are some praying mantis facts that are quite interesting. For example: A mantis has a larger group called Praying Mantids Mantises are a known predator. Their triangular heads rest on their long neck, which enable them to turn around in 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with their pair of large compound eyes, and three other simple eyes found between the two large eyes. Some of their species posses body shapes that make them look like leaves or branches of plants. 
Their color, which comes in gray or green, affords them the ability to camouflage with the plants, where they await for their prey or stalk on their prey. And when they found one such as a moth, grasshopper, fly, and other insects, they use their legs to ensnare it with quick reflexes—around one-twentieth of a second—it is impossible to detect it with a naked eye. One of the interesting praying mantis facts are their legs are designed for ensnaring prey and pinning it in place with their spikes. When they feed, they eat on the heads of their prey. Because they are insectivore, many farmers welcome mantids into their farms and garden as most of the insects they feed on are those that are pests to the crops. Besides insects, mantids also prey on spiders, frogs, small birds, and lizards. Bearing the scientific name Mantodea, most of the mantids live in tropical areas of the world. Africa is host to 880 species, while North America is home to 20 species. The life expectancy of a praying mantis is one year. Although not all, most mantises have wings so they can fly. The length of a mantis can reach 6 inches. However, in Asia, some mantids can grow to as long as 10 inches. A female mantis is larger than the male. During their mating, the female mantis at times chomps off the head of her mate. According to scientists, such act boosts the energy of female in producing her eggs. Praying Mantis Eggs The appearance of the mantis when the eggs hatched resembles closely the adult mantis sans the wings, which will grow in the later stage. Scientists observe that sometimes, the first food of these newly hatched mantises is their siblings. _________________________________________________________________ Top of Praying Mantis Facts Listed under Natural Pest Control |
.The praying mantis owe their name to their front legs—designed to bend and clasped together resembling the position of our hands in praying.