Above: an Asian praying
mantis.
The praying mantis (plural = mantids)
is actually a large complex of several genera and numerous species found
on all continents except Antarctica. Mantids get their "praying"
name from the posture of the greatly enlarged first pair of legs. These
legs are rarely used in walking, but instead are equipped with spines and
are used to grasp and impale prey. Mantids generally move slowly, fly
awkwardly, and are extremely well camouflaged. They are diurnal
sit-and-wait predators, and range in size from about 1 ¼ inch to seven
inches (2.7-18 cm).
Some are bizarre leaf-shaped insects, and others are so thin as to be
almost devoid of recognizable features. Nevertheless, whatever their size, praying mantids are formidable
predators.
Contrary to popular American lore, it is
not illegal to kill praying mantids; however, their value in killing
harmful and pest insects makes them extremely useful and beneficial to
humans. Many people buy mantis egg cases, plant them in their gardens, and
depend upon young mantids to consume harmful insects.
It is almost legendary that female
mantids, which are much larger than males, kill and consume their mates
during copulation. This story comes from observations on captive insects
which had often been inadequately fed, according to Drs. Eckehard Liske
(Max Planck Institute, Germany) and W. Jackson Davis (University of
California, Santa Cruz). The smaller male would indeed
appear first as food to a near-starving female. Though some females do
consume mates in nature, this is not a typical or forgone result of
mating attempts.
Hatchling mantids resemble the parents in
general form, though they tend to lack wings until several weeks old.
Though adult mantids can fly, they do so in an awkward manner. Their
primary form of defense is passive camouflage.
