Mantis There are more than 2 000 species of mantids They are popularly called praying mantises because of the way they fold their forelegs in a prayer like manner However these deadly predators are actually preparing to strike They are masters of camouflage mimicking their surroundings They remain unseen until they move with lightning speed to grab and eat live
The species originated in the warm tropics Today they have spread to many places around the world Farmers and gardeners import these unique insects to control bug populations in a chemical free way MU XTREME FACT Praying mantises only eat live prey Some mantises not only eat insects but also reptiles birds mice and even each other
Antennae Head Eyes Body Parts Thorax Like all insects Mandibles mantises are made up of three parts the head thorax and abdomen Hook They have six legs Mantises Spines use their spiked The front raptorial legs forelegs like arms are designed to grab and hold prey grabbing and impaling their pre on their spines A mantis strikes and retracts in less than half the time it The back four legs are mainly used for takes for a human walking to
A female mantis lays eggs in a frothy liquid that hardens into a case called an ootheca To grow a mantis molts its exoskeleton and a larger one hardens in its place About 100 to 200 baby mantises will hatch from an ootheca They will start to eat small bugs immediately Wings Abdomen
