The female praying mantis eats the male after mating. The praying mantis is an insect with character

Praying Mantises ( Mantodea) - a special order of insects. In a number of features (the structure of the abdomen, wings, the production of special capsules-ootheca for eggs) they are similar to cockroaches - based on these characteristics they were sometimes even combined into one order. But in their lifestyle and behavior, praying mantises are not at all similar to cockroaches - they are active predators living alone.

The praying mantis is known for its "prayer pose" with its front legs folded over its chest. These legs are grasping, with sharp spines, and open like a penknife. Quickly throwing them forward, the mantis deftly captures the prey.

In total, about 2 thousand species of mantises are known. Large tropical species are capable of attacking small lizards, birds, and frogs. But an ordinary praying mantis 6 cm in size can kill and eat a lizard 10 cm long in 3 hours and digest it in 6 days. At this time he doubles in weight. But the usual food of praying mantises is insects.

Praying mantises have a camouflage color - matching the color of the trees, grass, flowers, sticks, stones, leaves among which they live. A motionless mantis in its natural environment is almost impossible to notice. Only movement can give it away. The praying mantis usually moves very slowly, but if there is obvious danger, it can crawl away quite quickly - and freeze again in a new place. When clearly attacked, this insect behaves differently - it opens its wings, increasing its size, and begins to swing, trying to scare its enemies. Row tropical species at the same time they make sounds - the rustling of wings, the clicking of legs. Some mantises have contrasting spots on their wings that are hidden when at rest. But when the wings spread, these spots, like someone’s large eyes, suddenly appear in front of the enemy, frightening him. In addition, the attacked mantis throws its open grasping legs forward, trying to prick the enemy with its spines.

Praying mantis Pseudocreoborta wahlbergi in a threatening pose

Praying mantises are primarily inhabitants of the tropics or subtropics. Most widely distributed common mantis (Mantis religiosa): from South Africa to Central Asia, the Caucasus, the south of central Russia - approximately to the line of Kursk, Bryansk, Orel, Belgorod. But along the northern borders of its distribution, the praying mantis is rare. For example, near Kiev we observed it 1–4 times a year, and near Kharkov - even less often, occasionally. But already on the Black Sea coast, in Crimea, in the Caucasus, this is quite common insect. The common mantis is found in southern Siberia, Kazakhstan and the Russian Far East. With ships, this species also came to Australia and the USA, and is now found there even in large cities, for example in New York.

Were unexpected meetings with the praying mantis, too: either he flew into the window of the house, or he sat on the sidewalk of a city street, at a trolleybus stop. But still, the usual habitat of this insect in the city is close to natural: dense thickets herbs, bushes, trees in parks, botanical gardens.

The common praying mantis has three color forms: green, yellow and brown - to match the color of the environment where it lives. We encountered mostly green mantises – up to 80% of encounters. It is possible that the color of this insect also varies across areas of distribution, depending on the area in which which colors of the vegetation predominate.

You can meet the common praying mantis both in the grass and on the branches of bushes and trees. These insects have well-developed wings, but we observed only males flying. They fly especially actively at night, although they can fly from tree to tree during the day. But usually the mantis does not strive to move - if there is food, the tree mantis can live its entire life on one tree or bush, even on one large branch.

The praying mantis has a movable triangular head with developed eyes. He looks around carefully, he is attracted by every slightest movement nearby. Noticing a moving small object, a hungry mantis begins to slowly move towards it and, approaching, grabs it with its hunting legs and eats it. The mantis can catch small insects, motionless waiting for them in ambush, using its protective coloration. But the mantis actively pursues large prey, equal or even larger in size, for example an adult locust, crawls towards it openly, tries to jump onto its back and grabs it, first of all by the head. After which he immediately begins to eat, also from the head.

Stationary objects do not cause any reactions in mantises; they only catch moving prey (similar behavior can be seen in many spiders). But the mantis necessarily reacts to a moving object. In experiments, these insects even tried to catch the image of a colored square moving on a white screen.

If a large object that suddenly appears nearby is too large, the mantis may display a defensive reaction - then it spreads its wings and throws its legs forward with a special repulsive movement, trying to put their sharp ends and spines forward. A well-fed, weakened or old mantis also repels insects approaching it, which in other conditions would become its prey.

The praying mantis is gluttonous. The larvae eat 5–6 aphids, fruit flies, and house flies per day; An adult insect can eat 7-8 cockroaches about a centimeter in length in a row, spending about half an hour on each. Having caught a cockroach, the mantis begins to gnaw its soft parts, especially the abdomen, and finally the harder ones, in particular the head. All that remains of the cockroach are wings, sometimes pieces of legs, and the mantis eats soft insects almost without a trace.

Mantis breeding season temperate climate stretches from August to September. At this time, males begin to migrate in search of females. At the end of the abdomen of mantises there are special outgrowths - cerci, they are organs of smell. In males, the cerci are better developed and, perhaps, help in finding partners.

It is widely believed that a larger and more voracious female praying mantis will definitely eat the male upon meeting. However, in reality this is not always the case. Having noticed the female, the male praying mantis carefully and very slowly, with frequent long stops, freezing, begins to approach her, swaying slightly. At this time, the female can catch prey, eat, and clean herself. If she notices the male’s movement and turns her head towards him, he immediately freezes for a long time. This approach and contact can last 5–6 hours. As a rule, the male tries to approach the female from behind, from the back - this is the most successful and safe way for him. But if he approaches from the side, the female often notices him and attacks. Hungry females are the most aggressive; a well-fed insect reacts sluggishly to moving objects, and this also helps the male protect himself from attack. Positioning itself at the back of the female and quickly leaving after the meeting, the male praying mantis often remains alive. So cannibalism among these creatures is not such an obligatory phenomenon as previously thought.

When laying eggs, the fertilized female simultaneously secretes a special sticky liquid. Enveloping the eggs and hardening, this liquid forms a capsule - an ootheca, in the middle of which there are 100-300 eggs. Oootheca sticks to plants or stones, it is quite hard, retains the moisture inside the eggs necessary for the development and protects them from negative external influences. The eggs of the common mantis in the ooteca can withstand short-term frosts down to –18 °C.

Eggs of praying mantises from the south of central Europe apparently require temporary cooling—winter diapause—to develop. When breeding in captivity, it is often enough to keep the praying mantis eggs in the refrigerator for a month at a temperature of 0... +3 °C. But in the tropics, the development of mantis eggs occurs without diapause.

The newborn mantis larva has long filaments at the end of the abdomen and many backward-pointing spines on the body. These spines help her crawl out of the ootheca. But the tail filaments of the larva are pinched by the edges of the egg capsule - then the larva immediately molts, leaves the old skin and becomes similar to an adult mantis, only small and wingless. It has a protective coloration, but compared to adult insects it is very mobile.

At first, the larvae feed on small thrips and aphids, then, as they grow, they move on to fruit flies and larger flies. When kept in captivity, in a limited space, mantis larvae actively attack each other. But in nature they manage to spread out before it comes to mutual destruction.

In Europe and Central Asia, praying mantis larvae usually appear in April–May. After about two and a half months, having moulted 5 times, they turn into adult insects. After another 10–14 days, males begin to look for females.

An adult insect lives 55–60 days. Males usually die earlier than females - after the breeding season they become lethargic and stop hunting. The male praying mantis, caught in the wild as an adult, died in our captivity by the end of September, and the female died in October. Even when optimal conditions are created, with an abundance of food, warmth and light, mantises die during October, depending on the time of their birth in the spring. That is, the life span of 2 months allotted to an adult insect is very strict. The old mantis develops dark brown spots on its body, and its bright green color fades. A chemical analysis of the insect’s body during this period reveals the disappearance of vital amino acids in the body, in particular valine, leucine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, etc. Adding these amino acids to the food and water for the mantis, as well as vitamins A, D, E and a complex of B vitamins prolongs its life up to end of December, i.e. 2–3 months compared to the usual period.

In addition to the usual, in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the Southern Volga region, southern Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia spotted wing mantis (Iris polystictica). In the south of the steppe strip you can find praying mantises of the genus Bolivaria, and in Central Asia - tree mantises Hierodula.

Empusa (Empusa) are found in southern Europe, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Central Asia and southern Kazakhstan. These mantises have a very characteristic appearance: a triangular head with a pointed end and a special outgrowth sticking out in front - in this way they resemble little devils. These rather large insects (females reach 6.5 cm, males are slightly smaller) are generally similar to the common praying mantis, but slimmer, with a thinner abdomen. Male empusas have developed feathery antennae, which indicates their good perception of odors. Species of this genus are very active at night. Their larvae appear in the summer and are noticeably larger than the larvae of other mantises, so they immediately begin to feed on small flies (rather than thrips and aphids), and quickly switch to feeding on fillies and butterflies. Unlike a number of other mantises, empusas overwinter not with eggs in the ooteca, but with already grown larvae and even adults.

In addition to plant-living mantises, desert species are also found in Central Asia. They are small in size, stick to sand and rocks, and move quickly in search of prey. Their movements are similar to ants. These are, for example, rivetins ( Rivetina). Baby praying mantises from the armen family ( Armena) have a size of about 1.5 cm and are found not only in deserts, but also in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 2.7 km, where they hide under stones. Desert and mountain views praying mantises also have a corresponding gray inconspicuous coloration.

To a certain extent, praying mantises, especially their larvae, are beneficial insects, because destroy pests, especially on fruit trees and berry bushes. Thus, the Central Asian tree mantis eats about 25 g of various insects during its development. However, some of the praying mantises also include useful species, for example bees, riders. Attempts to use mantises to control agricultural pests, their mass breeding and resettlement for these purposes have not yet yielded results. But these insects still deserve careful treatment in their habitats.

IN last years in a number of places, mantises are becoming rare, in particular in the Crimea - empusa, spotted-winged mantis, bolivarius. A possible reason for this is the destruction of the habitats of these insects, dense steppe vegetation, and the plowing of virgin steppe lands. But by preserving small areas of dense herbs—micro-reserves for insects—and limiting the use of pesticides, mantises can also be preserved. This is especially desirable to do on the northern edges of their range, in Russia, where mantises are already quite rare.

Literature

Gornostaev G.N. Insects of the USSR. – M.: Mysl, 1970.

Life of animals. T. 3. Invertebrates. – M.: Education, 1969.

Plavilshchikov N.N. Insect key. – M.: Education, 1957.

Chervona Book of Ukraine (Tvarinniy suite)/Ed. MM. Shcherbak. – Kyiv: Ukrainian Encyclopedia, 1994.

• Phylum – Arthropods
• Class – Insects
• Squad – Cockroaches
• Suborder – Praying Mantis (Mantodea)

The famous Swedish scientist and traveler Carl Linnaeus gave the scientific name to the praying mantis: Mantis religiosa. Mantis translated from Greek means “prophet”, “priest”; religiosa – religious. Why did the praying mantis get this? strange name? Look at the photo: the praying mantis looks like someone praying. He stands on only four legs out of six, and keeps his forelimbs folded in front of his muzzle, as if he is praying to the Lord

An engraving by the famous Dutch artist Maurits Escher depicts a praying mantis praying for the absolution of a deceased religious dignitary. The praying mantis really looks like a person: it holds food in its “hands”, washes itself after a meal, can turn around (the only one of all insects!) and look intently, just like a person.

But the praying mantis is not as pious as it might seem. In fact, the predatory insect waits in ambush for an unwary victim in order to grab it with lightning speed.

The praying mantis is a typical predator

The praying mantis is a typical example of a predator in wait, or, in other words, an “ambush”. For hours he can sit quietly in a secluded place, waiting for prey. The camouflage coloring allows the mantis to blend in with the vegetation, and even the shape of its body resembles part of a plant. Although he lives among the abundance of greenery, plant foods does not accept. Moreover, the carnivorous insect eats its prey exclusively alive.

Praying mantises are merciless not only towards other insects smaller in size, which for them are nothing more than a tasty lunch, but also towards their relatives. This needs to be known to those who keep this aggressive creature as pet. Two or more praying mantises are unlikely to live together, especially if one is larger than the other.

In the Middle Ages in Japan, the praying mantis was considered a symbol of courage and cruelty, and they even put the image of an insect on the handles samurai swords. And one of the positions in kung fu repeats the pose of a praying mantis, ready for battle. In addition, in China they believed that the praying mantis has healing power and can cure some diseases. The ancient Greeks considered the praying mantis a harbinger of spring and a weather predictor; they called it a “prophet” and “soothsayer.” And in some European countries even today, praying mantises are credited with some magical power. Perhaps this creature, which is an object of superstition, will arouse your interest and you will want to keep it as a treasure?

Praying mantises: appearance and structural features

Praying mantises are large insects, and females are much larger than males. There are about two thousand species of praying mantises in the world. The common mantis (lat. Mantis religiosa) measures about 6 cm in length. The largest of the mantises, the Chinese mantis, reaches a length of 15 cm.

The body of mantises is elongated, the head is almost triangular, mobile. Large, round, bulging eyes that point slightly forward and downwards provide it with a much wider field of vision than a human. And thanks to its extremely flexible neck, the praying mantis can turn its head so that it will notice any creature approaching it from behind. The mouth is well developed and equipped with biting jaws or a sucking proboscis.

Among the praying mantises there are both winged and wingless ones. In insects equipped with wings, both pairs of wings are well developed. The front wings are narrower than the hind wings and denser. When at rest, the wide membranous hind wings are folded like a fan and covered with elytra. It must be said that the wings are for their intended purpose, i.e. for flight, the praying mantis rarely uses it. Rather, he needs them to intimidate prey, as well as enemies.

The body structure of the praying mantis indicates that the insect is well adapted to a predatory lifestyle. The abdomen is ten-segmented, soft and flattened, with numerous long outgrowths - cerci (serve as olfactory organs). The long thigh is seated along the lower edge with three rows of strong spines. The lower edge of the tibia also has 3 rows of pronounced spines. The thigh and lower leg fold together to form a powerful grasping apparatus that acts like scissors.

Mantis - master of camouflage

Some types of mantises are green in color, so they are difficult to notice among the grass and foliage, while others can have a pinkish tint, as a result they merge with flower petals. And, for example, the Indian mantis has a brown tint and on the ground looks like just a fallen leaf.

Mantis body shape and various camouflage colors allow the insect to merge with plants, which makes it practically invisible to both potential victims and enemies. The praying mantis itself can also become a victim of larger predators (birds, lizards). To protect itself from enemies, the praying mantis has a number of protective devices.

Thus, the camouflage color makes the praying mantis hidden in the grass almost invisible. Gives the insect movement. Under normal circumstances, the praying mantis moves very slowly, but when in danger it can quickly crawl to cover. When there is a clear threat, the insect visually increases the area of ​​its body, opening its wings, and begins to sway from side to side, trying with all its might to scare off the enemy. The insect tries to hit the enemy with its front legs with sharp spines.

When the mantis has to defend itself, it moves both pairs of wings to the sides and spreads its legs. All brightly colored surfaces of the body protrude outward. Some species bend their abdomen in an arc and raise their elytra and wings, emitting a characteristic rustling sound.

These are large predatory insects belonging to the Bogomolov order. A characteristic feature praying mantises is the presence of long front legs equipped with spines used for food extraction. People breed these insects in terrariums.

Scientists observe their behavior and study their habits, since in nature it is very difficult to track down a praying mantis due to its camouflage color. Most often, the skin of a praying mantis is green or brown and is practically invisible in the grass. The insect is capable of freezing and sitting motionless on its prey, making observation of mantises much more difficult.

Appearance

Praying mantises are large insects, the males are 42 to 52 mm in size; the females are larger, reaching 48-75 mm. The insect's legs have spine-shaped devices for holding prey.

Outwardly, it is very difficult to confuse the common praying mantis with other insects.

• Head It has a triangular shape, with large eyes located on the sides, which often have the same color as the body color. There are two long whiskers on the head.
• Body The insect is oblong and has wings for flight. However, it prefers to fly only at night; during the day, the praying mantis only occasionally uses its wings to fly.
• Has very powerful jaws, which can gnaw not only on the bodies of other insects, but also bite off meat and break the chitinous shell of beetles.
• Coloring varies, but the most common are green and brown insects.

Regarding coloration, mantises have a large number of flowers in your arsenal. The color is very variable depending on the habitat, ranging from green or yellow to dark brown or brown. Praying mantises, like natural hunters, adapt to environment, and therefore their color will be the same as the color of the surrounding grass and plants. Old individuals of these insects turn pale and lose their color. The body of older individuals stops producing amino acids that are important for maintaining life. By artificially adding food containing the missing amino acids to the insect's diet, the mantis can live twice as long as it would in nature.

Reproduction

Males have a hard time getting pregnant romantic relationship with a female praying mantis. Since the females are much larger and stronger than the groom. They are aggressive towards males, especially during periods when the female is not ready to mate.

During the mating season, the male, having noticed the female, begins to creep up on her, more carefully than on prey. Sometimes this action is so slow that the human eye is not able to catch the movements. The groom tries to sneak up on his bride exclusively from behind so that she does not attack. If the female turns to him, he freezes for a long time, while swaying a little. Biologists suggest that these swaying movements are used to excite the female and switch from her hunting instincts to reproductive instincts.

This movement is a kind of courtship and can last up to 6 hours. Reproduction occurs in late summer, from mid-August to early September. Under the influence of sex hormones, insects become aggressive, and cases of cannibalism often occur at this time. The female, as a larger representative of mantises, being in a hungry state, is capable of eating her fellows. However, the male has to be content with insects. Known fact, that after mating females often eat the male, but this is far from a mandatory rule. Eating one's partner occurs in approximately half of all cases, and is extremely rare during the mating process itself.

Offspring of praying mantises

The common mantis lays eggs in swellings. This form of masonry is characteristic of smallmouths and cockroaches. The clutch is a horizontal row of eggs. The female fills the eggs with foamy liquid. When the liquid hardens, it forms a protective capsule. One clutch usually contains up to 300 eggs. The capsule is quite hard and can easily stick to the stems of the plant. Good humidity and temperature are maintained inside the shell. Eggs in such conditions can survive even frosts, down to minus 18 degrees. The incubation period in warm areas where common mantises live is 30 days to develop into larvae. In cold areas of residence, eggs are left for the winter.

Larvae are formed after 30 days of incubation period. There are small spines on the surface of the larvae that help them get out from under the shell. Once the larva is released, it molts over time. Becomes similar to an adult after shedding its skin. Puberty, the common praying mantis occurs two weeks later. Then, the males begin to look for females to mate with. Praying mantises live in natural conditions up to two months, in an artificial habitat they can live up to four. The males are the first to die, because after mating, they stop looking for prey, become very lethargic and soon die.

Diet and lifestyle

The praying mantis' diet consists of insects.

Females with large sizes, are capable of attacking not only small insects, but also big spiders, lizards, frogs, even small birds can be eaten. An ordinary praying mantis eats its prey slowly; the meal process can last up to 3 hours. The absorbed food is digested by the insect’s body over the course of a week.

By the end of summer, by the breeding season, males begin to actively use their wings to search for females. Bumping into each other, they start fighting. The losing individual not only risks death, but also becomes food for the winner.

Habitats are usually trees, shrubs, and grass. This is a very voracious predator; an adult mantis is capable of eating up to 7 cockroaches at a time. However, they are not interested in stationary targets. It eats its prey from the soft parts, then moves on to the hard parts. The jaws of this insect are very strong and are capable of chewing through the thick chitinous shell of various insects. Mantis leads sedentary image life, and if he has enough food, he does not leave the tree or bush on which he has lived his whole life.

Praying mantises are predatory insects, classified into the order Bogomolovs of the same name, numbering 2853 species. to his unusual name they are not obligated angelic character, but a special hunting pose in which they fold their front legs in the pose of a praying person.

Devil's Flower (Idolomantis diabolica) - This mantis gets its name from its ominous appearance.

The sizes of these insects range from 1 to 11 cm. Appearance praying mantises can be very different, however, in all species of these insects you can find common features. They are characterized by a small, mobile head triangular shape and a narrow body with long, jointed limbs, giving them a similarity to grasshoppers or stick insects. But from a systematic point of view, praying mantises have nothing in common with grasshoppers; stick insects can only be considered their distant relatives, and truly brotherly ties connect these insects with cockroaches.

Many praying mantises, like this feathery empusa (Empusa pennata), have branched antennae. They can be straight or twist into a gentle spiral.

Praying mantises are quite thermophilic, so they reached their greatest diversity in the tropics and subtropics; only a few species have penetrated into the temperate zone, and in cold climates they try to inhabit the warmest biotopes: steppes and dry meadows. But in the tropics, mantises can be found in wet forests, and in rocky deserts. These insects are active mainly during daylight hours, since they track their prey visually. Praying mantises never pursue their prey: like spiders, they are typical ambushers, ready to sit in one place all day long, waiting for an unwary mosquito. In this regard, the vast majority of these insects have developed protective colors, and some have even developed a special body shape. For example, in species that live in dense grass, the straight body of a green or brown-variegated color resembles a blade of grass or a dry stick...

in species living in the tropical forest, it is green with lateral outgrowths and looks like a leaf...

In Choerododis stalii, even tiny spots imitate natural damage to the leaf.

Tropical mantises that ambush flowers have a curved abdomen and flat lobes on their legs that mimic flower petals.

Orchid mantises change color as they age: juveniles are white, adults are pink.

The orchid mantis is indistinguishable from the flower on which it lives.

In this parade camouflage suits a rare exception is the bright mantis, whose covers have a metallic sheen of all shades of the rainbow.

The difference in color between the two bright praying mantises (Metallyticus splendidus) is due to the different angles of light refraction.

Like other insects, praying mantises have wings: more rigid front ones (elytra) and transparent rear wings, used for flight. Occasionally there are short-winged or completely wingless species (mostly desert ones).

The desert mantis (Eremiaphila baueri) is one of the little-studied species.

Some mantises use their wings for protection; in case of danger, they suddenly open them wide and thereby scare away a potential enemy. Accordingly, the wings of such insects have an intricate pattern.

African spiny mantis (Pseudocreobroter occellata).

Mantises, deprived of such useful weapons of defense, resort to the old, well-proven method, namely, in the face of danger they take an aggressive “hunting” pose. If this does not help, the mantis flies away or, conversely, rushes at the offender and bites him. Some species are even capable of hissing.

This mantis fights to the last, but the forces are too unequal.

Birds, chameleons, and snakes are considered enemies of praying mantises. But they themselves are not born with bast. Praying mantises are very voracious and in a few months of life they manage to destroy several thousand insects ranging in size from aphids to grasshoppers, and sometimes even attack vertebrates. Cannibalism is the norm for them, and it sometimes manifests itself at the most unexpected moment. It has long been noticed that after mating, the larger female praying mantis often snacks on her chosen one; in exceptional cases, she begins this unseemly activity while still in the process love pleasures. To reduce the risk of being eaten, the male performs a ritual dance before mating, which helps the female distinguish her partner from her prey and set her up in a peaceful mood.

The praying mantis caught a small gecko.

Reproduction in tropical mantises occurs all year round, kinds temperate zone mate in the fall. The female lays from 10 to 400 eggs in several portions on grass stems, tree branches, posts, boards (less often in sand). She immerses each clutch in a foamy mass, which, when hardened, forms a capsule - an ooteca. Cockroaches have the same capsules. Depending on the substrate, the ootheca may be sandy, gray or Brown. The eggs mature in it from 3 weeks to 6 months; in species of the temperate zone, it is the eggs that are the overwintering life stage.

Ootheca mantis.

Praying mantises are insects with incomplete metamorphosis, therefore their larvae, called nymphs, have a body shape similar to adult individuals, only wingless. Nymphs are insatiable, so they grow quickly; in the process of growing up, they manage to molt from 9 to 55 times. In general, the life expectancy of mantises does not exceed 1 year.

An orchid mantis nymph mimics an ant.

People have long paid attention to the warlike nature of these insects; one of the Chinese wrestling styles, wushu, is even named after them. Nowadays, praying mantises are one of the most popular insects to keep in home insectariums. In addition, due to their gluttony, they are also useful in agriculture. True, along with aphids, flies and grasshoppers, mantises can also attack beneficial insects. In the USA, they are used to a limited extent in gardens for growing organic fruits. In general, the condition of this group of insects is good. Species such as spotted iris, striped empusa and short-winged bolivaria are included in the regional Red Books.

Paws folded as if in prayer, a pose full of humility and sorrow - before you is a praying mantis - one of the most extraordinary creatures on earth, which cannot be confused with someone else, but can easily be mistaken for a twig, leaf or blade of grass.

Common praying mantis: close-up photo.

Mantis on cucumbers.

About 3 thousand now known species praying mantises belong to the largest detachment praying mantises - arthropod insects with incomplete metamorphosis. One of the most common species is the religious mantis (Mantis religiosa), a member of the family of true mantises, named by Carl Linnaeus due to its characteristic prayer pose.

Having examined the praying mantis more closely and learned its true character, it becomes clear that behind the deceptive humility lies a cunning, cruel and merciless predator, far from being a saint, but rather vicious.

Here is a photo of praying mantises different types from all over the world:

Red mantis, photo taken on the island of Crete.

Orchid mantis. Habitat: India and Indonesia.

Orchid mantis in all its glory.

Praying mantis Phyllocrania paradoxa. Habitat: Madagascar.

Mantis Devil's flower. Habitat: East Africa.

Mantis Blepharopsis mendica. Habitat - North Africa, Asia Minor.

Mantis, we are finding out the type of insect.

What does a praying mantis look like?

Praying mantises - enough large predators, growing up to 15 cm in length, with females being much more massive and heavier than males. Long body insects are equipped with well-developed front and rear wings, which spread out like a chic fan to intimidate enemies.

The front legs of mantises are folded in prayer only when at rest, and their main purpose is to capture and hold prey, sometimes much larger than the mantis itself. Their thighs and legs are covered with rows of large and sharp spines, to which the mantis presses the caught victim, and the hind limbs of the insects are well adapted for walking.

Mantis on flowers.

Mantis on a flower, photo No. 2.

Praying mantises can engage in cannibalism.

Mantis. The photo was taken in the Moscow region. Camera smartphone NOKIA LUMIA 1020.

The most notable feature of praying mantises is their triangular head with with huge eyes, so mobile that these insects are the only ones who can easily look behind themselves with one turn of their heads.

The oral apparatus of mantises is excellently developed, and powerful jaws They do an excellent job of grinding large and tough prey.

The art of camouflage

Praying mantises have a reputation unsurpassed masters camouflage, skillfully using camouflage colors to blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. For example, some African species of mantises turn black in order to successfully hunt at fire sites.

Most predators are colored in a rich, grassy - green color, there are beige and brownish specimens, and only 5 Asian species from the family Metallyticidae they are distinguished by their blue-green color with a metallic tint.

Cunning insects can not only mimic the color of foliage, stones and trees, but also skillfully imitate leaves, shoots, grass stems and even fruit seeds with the position of their bodies.

Where do praying mantises live?

Today these insects are found in southern Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and are very numerous throughout their range. Praying mantises adapt well to different biotopes and, with an abundant food supply, prefer a sedentary lifestyle.

Despite their frightening appearance, mantises are highly valued by farmers of all countries, they welcome them and try to use them as an effective biological weapons to combat insects - agricultural pests.

In America and a number of Asian countries they are kept as pets - exterminators of flies and mosquitoes, and lovers of exotic insects decorate their insectariums with them.

Common praying mantis (Mantis religiosa).

Common mantis, or religious mantis.

Common praying mantis.

Common praying mantis in the grass.

Mantis, macro photography.

A praying mantis on top of a cliff, against the backdrop of the Black Sea coast.

Hunting mantis

Mantises spend most of their lives in their characteristic position, waiting for prey, and thanks to their excellent vision, they mark the victim from afar and quickly attack when the prey is within reach.

Sometimes, young mantises, in order to survive, feed on their weaker brothers.

Praying mantises eat various insects, hunt small snakes, frogs and lizards, attack birds and rodents, practice cannibalism on occasion and will not refuse to feast on their own offspring.

These fearless and arrogant predators are not afraid to demonstrate their superiority by frighteningly bristling their wings and throwing them forward. long paws, raising his butt in the air and rushing into battle. If the potential victim turns out to be stronger, the mantis retreats and flies away.

Mantis defensive stance.

Mantis defensive stance.

Common mantis, or religious mantis (lat. Mantis religiosa).

According to legend, one of the most famous styles of Chinese wushu - tanglangquan or "mantis style" arose after a famous master observed the technique of a duel between two insects, when a large cicada was unable to escape from the iron grip of the mantis.

Reproduction and dance of the praying mantis

Mantises owe their fame partly to the original behavior of females, who eat males after or during mating. This feature is explained by the need of females for high doses of protein necessary for the development of eggs, so males have to resort to various tricks to avoid death.

Praying mantises mating. Transcaucasian praying mantis (Hierodula transcaucasica).

At the end of the last century, researchers studying the Chinese mantis noticed how males, during courtship, perform an eerie but effective dance in front of the female in an attempt to make them perceive themselves as a partner, and not as a food object. It is difficult to judge how well the dance really works, however, about half of the matings end quite happily for the males.

The female lays from 10 to 400 eggs, which she places in a capsule - an ootheca, and hangs on bushes, grass and tree branches. In the larval stage, the insect resembles a worm, and after hatching and shedding, it turns into a full-fledged praying mantis. Having been born, the offspring, for the purpose of self-preservation, tries to quickly hide from the mother’s eyes.

The life of mantises is interesting and short, most individuals live 6 - 7 months, and only specimens overwintering in the ooteca are able to live for a year.