Praying Mantis Habitat

While taking a walk in the garden, late in the evening, have you noticed a green leaf like insect with its front legs bent and held together at an angle that looks as if he's praying? This pious insect suddenly catch hold of the little wriggling caterpillar and bites its head off! Well, you have just witnessed the praying mantis hunting its prey. Due to their folded front legs, these interesting insects are named as praying mantis.

Praying Mantis Information
The praying mantis have a body that is divided into three distinct parts. The three regions are head, thorax, and abdomen. They have large compound eyes on the head. These eyes move freely up to an angle of 180°. They have three simple eyes present between the compound eyes. The thorax region is elongated and looks like a neck. The front legs are attached to the thorax region. They have modified raptorial graspers with strong spikes. They use it to grasp and hold their prey. Praying mantis are basically diurnal.

Praying mantises are usually green or brown, that helps them camouflage on the plants they live. The praying mantis diet consist of moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, caterpillar and other small insects. They have quick hunting reflexes that are invisible to the naked human eye. They lie patiently in ambush, stalking their prey, and snarl the unsuspecting insect using the spikes on the front legs.

After mating, the female praying mantis lays hundreds of eggs in a small case. The nymphs hatch from these eggs and have unmistakable resemblance to their parents. The praying mantis life cycle is very interesting. Praying mantis can live up to 12 months in the wild.

Habitat of Praying Mantis
If you are wondering about the praying mantis habitat, this will answer your question. Praying mantis habitat is widely distributed throughout the tropical, sub tropical and warm temperate regions of the worlds. Many species of praying mantis are found in the North and South America, South Africa, Europe, the Southern parts of Asia and some parts of Australia.

The praying mantis habitat influences their color. This is very useful in camouflaging themselves from the view of other insects. This is also useful in hiding themselves from their enemies like the owl, frogs, chameleons, bats, monkeys, etc.

The praying mantis prefer living in warmer climates which have mild winters. They live in gardens, forests or areas with green vegetation.

Praying Mantis Facts

• Sexual cannibalism is observed in the praying mantis. During mating the hungry females bite the heads of the males and devours them. The males continue to copulate without their heads as the nerve for copulation is present in the abdomen region and not the head.
• The nymphs are known to prey on each other. Praying mantis will also prey on its kind, in case there is no other prey around.
• When threatened, the praying mantis stands tall on its hind legs and spreads its forelegs. Their wings are fanned out and mouth wide open making the praying mantis look quite horrendous. This scares off the opponent. If the opponent does not back out in spite of this, the mantis strikes with his forelegs and tries to pinch, bite and slash the challenger.
• The praying mantis develop wings only after their final molt. Few never develop wings and some develop flightless wings. Praying mantis usually do not fly. The male mantis mainly fly at nights when they are attracted to light or during the mating season, when the females emit pheromones.
• There are many folk stories regarding the praying mantis. It is believed by the French, that a praying mantis will point the direction towards home to a lost child. The English believe they are highly devout as they seem to be praying all the time. The Arabs believe the praying mantis is always pointing towards Mecca. Africans believe the praying mantis brings good luck and can bring back the dead to life. Americans have thought that the praying mantis can blind men and kill horses.

Praying mantises are very interesting creatures. The next time you see a praying mantis in your garden do not worry. Admire these wonderful creatures and leave him alone. They are very helpful to our gardens as they eat up all the insects that harm the plants. Maybe the English are right in thinking praying mantises to be very devout because they surely do seem to pray before every meal!