Praying Mantis

Order: Mantodea

Family: Mantidae

How to identify:

As with most insects, mantises have six legs and four wings. Praying mantises can be identified by their slender bodies and large, bent front legs. They are usually green or brown, and adults can range from 2-5 inches, depending on sex and species. 

Advanced ID: The praying mantis can be identified by its elongated prothorax and raptorial forelegs. They have a triangular head with large compound eyes. The females are larger and have longer cerci on their abdomen (Borror & White, 1998). 

Ecology

Metamorphosis Type: Simple metamorphosis

Geographic Range: Found on every continent except Antarctica.

Habitat: Most are found in grasslands and forests, but can be found even in backyards, meadows, shrublands or deserts.

Trophic Level: Predator

Food: Praying mantises catch their food with their raptorial forelegs, a specialized bent leg that is useful for grasping prey. (Waleed, 2021) They utilize camouflage to blend in with their environment, and they wait for prey to cross their path (e.g., often on or near a flower). They are generalists and will feed on almost anything they can catch- mostly other insects (including other praying mantises), but occasionally small birds (like hummingbirds), reptiles, and mammals.

Why should we care?

Human Uses: In the past, people have introduced non-native mantis species in the hope that they would eat pest insects that damage human crops. However, mantises are indiscriminate predators and eat whatever they can catch, resulting in them consuming not just harmful pest insects, but also beneficial ones. In New Jersey, there are three species of mantis- the native Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina), the introduced Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis), and the introduced European mantis (Mantis religiosa). (Pyle 2020)

The Carolina mantis can be identified by its smaller size (2-3 in) and brown coloration. (Neff 2019) The Chinese Mantis is much larger and has a green stripe along its wings. The European Mantis can be identified by its red and white stripes along its wings.

Conservation Status: Most mantises are considered least concerned on the IUCN red list. (Battison 2015) 

Did you know?

• To some people, the bent front legs of the mantids appear as though they are praying.
• Praying Mantises are the only insect known to be capable of turning their heads 180 degrees. (The Buzz)

Researcher’s Biography

Chris Delvecchio
Completed this research within Dr. Shelly Thomas’ Entomology course

Suggested Citation:

Delvecchio, Chris  (2021). Praying Mantis. Rowan University Arboretum. https://arboretum.rowan.edu/learn/explore-insects/praying-mantis/