What Do Praying Mantis Eat

With more than 2000 mantis species found across the temperate and tropical regions of the world, this insect is undoubtedly one of the most interesting member of kingdom Animlia. Owing to their docile nature, the species are kept as pets in various parts of the world.

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is a species of insect best known for the peculiar manner in which it holds its large front legs together - as if it were praying - and hence the name. This insect is a bit unusual - its life cycle doesn't have the larvae stage like other insects, and the lifespan of 12 years which is observed in some mantis subspecies is also too long for insects. It is a diurnal species, most often seen active in broad daylight. Their spiked forelegs are specially designed for a greater range of movement in order to catch the prey, and hold it securely. Some mantis subspecies have the ability to move their head by 300 degrees. In fact the ability to move its head in such a manner is a unique adaptations which allows it to have a greater range of view.

What do they Eat?

Praying mantis is strictly carnivorous in nature, and its diet often includes various species of insects - including mosquitoes, flies, grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies, moths, spiders, roaches, bees, dragonflies, etc. Other than these insects, the mantis also feed on lizards, frogs, rodents and birds. Almost all the species of mantis feed on insects, but those which can grow up to a length of 10-12 cm are generally the ones who take on birds, rodents and other creatures of their own size. A large mantis feeding on a hummingbird is not a rare sight in regions wherein its habitat overlaps that of the hummingbird. The superb camouflage skills of this insect come handy when it is hunting, wherein it waits for the prey to come within the range and uses its flexible legs to catch it.

You will have to balance the diet of your pet praying mantis on similar lines, so as to make sure that it doesn't fall short of required nutrition. It is quite easy to feed a praying mantis in captivity, as numerous insects are easily available in your surroundings. Your pet mantis will feast on flies and mosquitoes in your surroundings. The young ones of mantis generally start with small prey and gradually start eating larger insects as they grow. You can start with fruit flies if your pet mantis is very small, and gradually start feeding it larger insects.

Though the instances are rare, the female praying mantis is also known to feed on male mantis after mating, especially when there is scarcity of food - and that's one fact that you need to take into consideration when you keep a mantis couple as pets.