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A praying mantis is a carnivorous invertebrate that got its name from its ‘praying’ posture of the front legs folded and held together. A mantis is an insect capable of camouflage, swift, agile movement, and three-dimensional vision.
See the fact file below for more information on the praying mantis or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Praying Mantis worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Introducing The Praying Mantis
- The praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) is part of the Mantidae family.
- Mantises are classified into more than 2,400 species, in about 460 genera in 33 different families.
- The word Mantis comes from the Greek word for prophet.
- The praying mantis gets its name from its bent forearms that make it look like it’s in a prayer position.
- They are commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas but they also occupy regions with temperate climates.
Anatomy
- Mantises have large, triangular heads with a beak-like snout.
- They have mandibles (jawbones) which are the only movable bone of the skull and which contain the teeth.
- Mantises have two bulging compound eyes plus three small, simple eyes.
- The eyes are laterally situated and widely spaced.
- Praying mantises have stereo vision, which allows them to see in three-dimension.
- The fovea in their eyes provides them with clear vision and sharp focus.
- They rely heavily on vision to catch their food.
- They also have a pair of antennae, sometimes called feelers, which are another sensory organ.
- Mantises’ necks are very flexible. Some species can rotate their heads nearly 180°.
- The mantis thorax consists of three segments.
- the first section, which is called the prothorax and, has the first set of legs
- the middle section, called the mesothorax, which bears the second pair of legs, contains the wings and has two tympana (external hearing structures).
- the end section, the metathorax, which bears the third pair of legs.
- In most species, the prothorax is much longer than the other two thoracic segments.
- Mantises have two forelegs, which are spiked for grasping and holding prey.
- The foreleg of the mantis ends in a delicate walking appendage, made of four or five segments and ending in a two-toed claw.
- There are species of praying mantis that have wings, and there are those that are wingless.
- Those that have wings are classified according to their wing shape and size: long-winged, short-winged, and vestigial-winged.
- Wings are usually leathery and narrow and also function as camouflage.
- The abdomen of males tends to be slimmer than those of females.
- The size of a praying mantis ranges from half an inch to half a foot long.
- A praying mantis is typically green or brown in color, although other colors like white and even purple exist.
- The lifespan of a mantis depends on the species. Smaller species may live 4–8 weeks, while larger species may live 4–6 months.
Habitat, Diet, and Predators
- Most species of praying mantis live in the tropical rainforest, although others are found in grasslands, meadowlands, and deserts,
- It is hard to spot a mantis among leaves and branches because it blends well with its surroundings. One can easily mistake this stick figure for a twig.
- A praying mantis is an ambush predator that only eats live creatures.
- When hunting for food, a mantis usually stalks its prey, stays stationary, waits patiently for the prey to be close enough, and then ensnares it with its spiky front legs, which are also referred to as “raptorial legs”.
- It is so quick in skewering its prey that the human eye can’t see it.
- It usually catches aphids, insects, flies, crickets, grasshoppers, and small spiders.
- This makes them ideal for pest control in gardens.
- They don’t just eat insects; large species also attack hummingbirds, sunbirds, honeyeaters, warblers, and small frogs, to name a few.
- After eating, praying mantis cleans its forearms.
- Predators of praying mantises include frogs, lizards, spiders, hornets, ants, birds, and bats.
Reproduction and Young
- The mating season in tropical areas occurs at any time of the year, while in temperate climates, it usually takes place in autumn.
- Depending on the species, the female lays between 10 and 400 eggs.
- Eggs are deposited in a froth produced by glands in the abdomen.
- This froth hardens and creates a protective capsule.
- Together with the eggs, the mass is called an ootheca and is either deposited on the ground or attached to a flat surface or plant.
- Eggs are preyed upon by some species of wasp.
- In a few species, the mother guards the eggs.
- In temperate climates, adults do not survive the winter, and the eggs undergo a “diapause” and only hatch in spring.
- Mantises go through three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
- For smaller species, the eggs hatch in 3–4 weeks, in the larger species, eggs hatch at 4–6 weeks.
- A newborn mantis is called a nymph and may be a different color to the adult.
- A mantis nymph molts as it grows bigger. Depending on the species, molting can happen five to ten times before the adult stage is reached.
- After the final molt, most species have wings, although some species remain wingless.
- Praying mantises are cannibals, and females are known for sometimes killing and eating their partners during or after mating.
- There are studies that suggest that after mating, the females stop producing pheromones, which attract male partners, giving unmated females a better chance of finding a mate.
Did You Know?
- In ancient civilizations, the praying mantis was believed to be a supernatural creature.
- It is believed to be a god in Khoisan culture and a necromancer in ancient Mediterranean culture.
- The most prevalent species of praying mantis are the Chinese mantis, the European mantis, and the Carolina mantis.
- The Chinese mantis is native to Asia, particularly in China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. This species is usually longer than others and can grow up to 11 centimeters. They are perfect as pets because they can adapt quickly to human interaction.
- The common name of some of the species are as follows-
- the Arizona unicorn mantis which has two thorns next to each other on top of its head, which makes it look like a unicorn
- the African mantis, whose natural habitat is sub-Saharan Africa. This is a large and fierce species
- the orchid mantis, a beautiful white and pink mantis with lobes on its legs that look like flower petals
- the Indian flower mantis, native to Asia and a creamy white color
- the ghost mantis, named for its distinct camouflaged appearance of a dry weathered leaf
- the thistle mantis, a beautiful species from North Africa and the Canary Islands which is creamy-white to beige in color with light green stripes and light green “veins” on the wings
- the wandering violin mantis, which is an amazing looking species with a lot of appendages that look like dried leaves and a long body resembling a wooden stick
- the dead leaf mantis, which is native to Malaysia and looks just like a dead leaf.
- the flower mantis whose look mimics flowers so when prey comes to them to collect nectar it is killed and eaten.
- Praying mantises are generally harmless to humans. There are no known venomous species.
- The praying mantis is not an endangered species, but it is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in Germany where it is illegal to hold them in captivity.
Praying Mantis Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about praying mantis across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Praying Mantis worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about a praying mantis which is a carnivorous invertebrate that got its name from its ‘praying’ posture of the front legs folded and held together. A mantis is an insect capable of camouflage, swift agile movement, and three-dimensional vision.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Praying Mantis Facts
- Parts of a Praying Mantis
- The Preying Mantis
- Prey or Predator
- Mantis Species Search
- Fact or Fake
- Kung Fu Mantis
- Martin the Mantis
- Praying Pets
- Favorite Facts
- Mantis Acrostic
Frequently Asked Questions
Can praying mantis hurt you?
Praying mantis are carnivorous predators, but it is unlikely they can hurt humans. They cannot sting, have no venom, and do not carry any diseases.
What do praying mantis eat?
Praying mantises love food. They help with pest control as they eat destructive insects like grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and crickets. They also like to eat butterflies and bees.
How many eyes do praying mantis have?
Praying mantis have five eyes, two large ones and three smaller ones, which gives them stereo vision.
Which praying mantis is the biggest?
The Chinese Mantis is the world’s largest praying mantis, with one measuring 7.08 inches (18cm) long.
How long do praying mantis live?
The lifespan of a mantis depends on the species. The larger species live four to six months, while the smaller species only live four to six weeks.
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Link will appear as Praying Mantis Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 4, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.