By Charlie Fineran

Praying Mantis is the common name for an insect of the order Mantodea. These insects are notorious predators.  There are approximately 2,000 species worldwide, mostly in the tropical areas of Asia.

About 20 species are native to the USA. 

They have a segmented body, with a head, thorax and abdomen, which is covered in wings in adults.  For the most part, they eat other insects, but it is not uncommon for larger species of the world to eat small reptiles, birds and even small mammals!

The USA mantids are either not that big (PHEW), OR the latter described prey are smaller in the tropics.

Kind of creepy, thinking about an insect eating birds, mammals etc.!

INTRODUCTION

Common Name – Praying Mantis
Scientific Name – Mantis religiosa
Type – Invertebrates
Diet – Carnivore
Average Life Span in Wild – 1 year
Size – 0.5 to 6 inches long

The praying mantis gets its name from its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle suggesting it is praying.  Maybe we should change the spelling of its name to a more accurate and realistic ‘preying mantis’ because it is such a formidable predator, often earning the name ‘Tiger of the Garden!’ 

Nature has certainly equipped the mantis to be a successful predator.  A triangular head poised on a long “neck” or elongated thorax, they can turn their heads 180 degrees in order to scan their surroundings.  They have two large compound eyes AND three other simple eyes located between them, so I guess, we may assume, they pretty much see ‘everything’ within their surroundings!  

They use their antennae for smell.  They are typically green or brown and well-camouflaged on the plants where they live.  The mantis will lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry, using their front legs to snare their prey. Their reflexes are so quick, it is difficult to see their movements with the naked eye.

Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place.

OBSERVATION

We all tend to be “On Guard” with most insects, whether fearing a sting or bite, or just not wanting to be annoyed.  In general, introduce an insect and people begin swatting, moving etc., etc.  I have seen some pretty creative dance steps observing people avoid BUGS!! 

Introduce or come across a praying mantis, everyone seems to be suddenly curious, calm, and/or make statements, “They are good for your garden!” and “Don’t hurt it!” Almost like coming across a long-lost friend! 

Maybe, it is because they don’t flit around pestering us. Maybe because we don’t see them very often or they seem to be in a more controlled visit. You can go to them, they won’t bother you!  HOWEVER, let us put a few things in perspective here.  These guys are pretty big, up to 6 inches. Referring to a few of my photos, has anyone really looked at some of their armament!? 

Those pincers are lined with barbs, you know, the ones that are so fast you can’t see the attack with the naked eye, those barbs at the ends of their other legs? I believe there is some potential for an unpleasant incident.  While I have never heard of anyone being attacked/bothered by a praying mantis, and I have had them walking across my hand while moving them to a garden, just thought it was interesting how we treat these “Garden Killers” differently than we do the rest of those mostly tiny bugs! 

Better hope you don’t come across one of those larger types mentioned above!

Getting back to learning about their hunting prowess: moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies and other insects are on the mantis’s menu. 

Mantids are often touted as being good for your garden. This is not exactly true; the mantid will eat EVERY type of insect in your garden, both the good ones and the pests!!

Did you know the mantis will also eat others of their own kind? We may observe this in the mating behavior of the adult female, who sometimes eats her mate just after – or even during – mating.  This behavior seems not to deter males from reproduction.  Females regularly lay hundreds of eggs in a small case, and nymphs hatch looking much like tiny versions of their parents.

PREDATORS OF PRAYING MANTIS

Frogs, bats, monkeys, larger birds, spiders, and snakes all are predators of the mantis.  They even have to watch out for each other, as they will also prey on each other during the nymph stage, during mating and also if there is no other prey. 

NOTE: Hmm, doesn’t that just about mean they eat each other throughout life?  Or, if I was a mantis in trouble, don’t depend on any Family assistance! 

Referring back to my previous OBSERVATIONS, Charlie says, “If they do that to their own, wonder what they would do to me?”  In answer to that question, they could deliver a painful bite, this does not seem to occur very often. The mantis does not consider us a threat!

Praying mantids begin life in an ootheca egg mass (an ootheca usually contains many eggs surrounded by a foam of protein which may then harden into a tough casing for protection). They are usually laid in the fall on a small branch or twig, then the egg mass hatches in the spring to early summer as warming temperatures signal a time for birth.  Be forewarned, if you bring one of these into your home, get ready to have hundreds of mantids running around your house! At least no other bug problems!

DID YOU KNOW? A praying mantis has just one ear, on the underside of its belly, just in front of its hind legs.  This means they can’t tell the direction of sound.  But it can detect ultrasound, AKA sound produced by echolocating bats.  Studies have shown that a praying mantis can evade bats easily, stopping and barrel-rolling, diving, etc. to avoid them! 

Hope you enjoyed learning about this interesting insect.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.