Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantids can be green or tan. Their color camouflages them among plants. Like all insects, they have 6 jointed legs, a three part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), 2 antennae, compound eyes, and a hard exoskeleton. Mantids can rotate their head in almost a full circle. Praying Mantids have an elongated prothorax that looks like a neck. Most adult mantids are from 2 to 6 inches long.

The Praying Mantis eat flies, aphids, moths, butterflies, and many other insects . They catch their prey with their strong front legs. Praying Mantids are useful in gardens, since they control the insect population and will only eat live insects.

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Praying Mantids can hide in plain sight while waiting for their next meal. There shape allows them to blend into their surroundings. Below is a photo of the mantis that we released after it was photographed. It is almost invisible as it goes on its way.