Praying Mantis
OrderMantodea
FamilyMantidae
Size5-8 cm
HabitatGardens, meadows worldwide
DietCarnivorous (insects, spiders, small vertebrates)
About the Praying Mantis
Named for their folded front legs resembling prayer. The only insect that can turn its head 180 degrees. Females famously eat males during mating, though this occurs in only 13-28% of wild encounters. They are ambush predators with lightning-fast strike speed - 50-70 milliseconds. Some species mimic orchids so perfectly that pollinators approach them willingly. Over 2,400 species described.