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Praying Mantis
There are more than 2,000 species of mantids, or mantises. The most well-known is the praying mantis so called from its prayer-like posture. Mantises are always predators, catching and eating insects including their own species. Larger ones will even feed on lizards and birds.
701 Questions
What foods do praying mantids eat?
A praying mantis will eat a variety of foods including other insects and even small birds in the wild. They can even eat fruit flies, house flies, bees, and wasps.
My praying mantis has a bent tail what does that mean?
They need to breathe as their bodies are slanted. There are 2,000 species of praying mantis, and some are born with bent tails, as this is their species. So, your praying mantis is fine.
What is everything that a praying mantis will eat?
flies, ants, spiders, ladybugs, moths, crickets and wasps
Actually, they will eat just about any insect except wasps and ants.
Are praying mantises going instinct?
yes, and no at the same time. There are some extremely endangered species of praying mantises as of 2011. Yet there are still many species that are thriving in the eastern united states and in Australia.
How does a praying mantis move?
The praying mantis is an insect with six legs and no wings, so it walks.
-Mostly wrong. The mantis walks on four legs, while the other two "legs" are more like arms that he uses to grasp and kill prey, though it can help with movement like climbing things. Some breeds of mantis DO have wings, though it's usually the males that can only fly. http://www.dheconsl.net/praying_mantis.jpg
How do you determine the age of a praying mantis?
As far as I know, you can only determine it to an extent. If they have wings at all (females will have shorter wings, sometimes harder to see, males will generally always extend past the end of their abdomen), they are a full adult, which would indicate anywhere beyond 2 months, depending on species. You can also judge based on size, as they generally double in size each molting. If they are about 1/4 an inch, they are newborn, then they molt each week or so, doubling in size. So if it's about an inch long, they would most likely be 2-4 weeks old.
What is the difference between grasshoppers and praying mantis?
A grasshopper and Praying Mantis are two distinct species of insects. There are many species of both insects, additionally their size and habits vary. There are some 8000 species of grasshoppers and 2200 of the Mantis, each with unique identifying characteristics.
Why does a praying mantis look like a leaf?
Camouflage !.. A preying mantis eats insects for food. Being 'disguised' as a leaf makes it harder for the prey to see it until it's too late.
How do mantis eat bees and wasp with out getting stug?
The mantid's shell is too hard for the stinger to pierce... I just watched mine catch a paper-wasp and eat it whole!
No, they reproduce sexually.
Some of the species praying mantis can be reproduce asexually. But not all the species of praying mantis asexual.
Why do praying mantis have white bubbles around their eggs cases?
to protect them from predators and to keep them warm
Can cedar wood kill praying mantis?
Cedar and pine wood is deadly for most insects, including the mantis.
How do praying mantises breath?
Many insects breathe through spiracles, holes in their exoskeletons. See the related link for more information.
Red blood cells collect oxygen that happens to enter the tubes. This is a passive form of respiration, so oxygen is not actually pulled in, it just happens to be there. Most insects breath this way, and that is why they don't get very big.
How do you know when a praying mantis is hungry?
When you can see through it's abdomen & the stomach is black
What insecticide kills spiders but not praying mantises?
No insecticide kills spiders and spares praying mantises. Spiders number among the world's arachnids, along with mites, scorpions and ticks, whereas praying mantises, as insects, may be as vulnerable as arachnids even to such botanical insecticides as nicotine sulfate and pyrethrum. Spider control by botanical or chemical means requires a product that is categorized as an acaricide or as an arachnicide.
