Arthropod insects from the order Praying Mantises received their Russian name due to the fact that their forelimbs are similar to human arms, bent in the hands.
While in ambush, they take a wait-and-see attitude. In the photo of praying mantises you can see this behavioral feature. This posture is associated with the position of the body of a person reading a prayer.
Description of insects
These arthropod insects– owners of an elongated body with a triangular-shaped head that rotates around its axis. Mantises notice enemies ready to attack them from behind.
Look what a praying mantis looks like, the photo shows the complex structure of its bulging eyes. They are located on the sides of the head; the insect also has 3 additional eyes.
Many segments form antennae. The mouthparts of the gnawing type are directed downward.
A special feature is the pronotum, which expands upward. The body consists of 10 segments. On the latter there is a pair of appendages that serve as olfactory organs.
Most varieties of mantises have wings and can fly. The front pair of wings, narrower than the rear, are used as elytra.
The wider pair of wings at the rear may be brightly colored and even patterned. In addition, there are praying mantises without wings, similar to larvae.
Insects have well-developed forelimbs. The tarsi have 5 segments and 2 large claws. In addition to the tarsus, the limb includes the tibia, coxa, femur, and trochanter. The femur and tibia have spines.
During the eating process, the mantis holds the victim between the lower leg and thigh. The other legs of the insect have a typical structure for arthropods. The praying mantis breathes through the tracheal system.
The female praying mantis is larger in size than the male.
There are species that reach 16-17 cm in length, but there are also varieties no more than 5 mm.
The coloring of the body has a camouflage character. The color literally blends with the environment.
Some representatives of praying mantises resemble leaves, sticks or flowers, others are colored to resemble tree bark, lichens or ashes that are carried by the wind after a fire.
Insects can have different colors: green, brownish, yellow and even contrasting. The color of the same individual may change after molting.
Enemies of arthropod insects
Praying mantises can become prey for snakes, chameleons, bats and birds. Having encountered an enemy, the insect tries to scare the attacker.
The praying mantis adopts a terrifying pose and makes terrifying sounds. But when the enemy turns out to be stronger, he flies away.
How long does a praying mantis live?
Each species has its own life expectancy. It can vary from 2 to 11 months.
Natural habitat
Praying mantises live in most Asian and European countries in the south and central part. Insects can be found in Africa, South and North America, as well as Australia.
Praying mantises thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. Insects live in steppes, deserts and meadows. The only reason they leave their habitat is lack of food.
Most species of mantises are active during the daytime.
What do praying mantises eat?
These arthropods are predators, so they mainly feed on other insects. Predators hunt flies, mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees, butterflies, beetles and cockroaches.
The largest representatives of this order attack small amphibians, birds and rodents.
How do praying mantises reproduce?
In insects, the transformation cycle is not complete. Mantises are characterized by sexual demorphism. Those who live in the tropics reproduce all year round. For inhabitants of the temperate climate zone, the breeding season begins with the onset of autumn.
Males look for females to mate with. They dance a ritual dance so that their partner does not see them as her food. In order for offspring to appear, the process of fertilization is required.
When a female praying mantis lays unfertilized eggs, they become nymphs.
Often the male dies after fertilization. The partner eats it, thereby replenishing its supply of nutrients.
There are varieties in which the male praying mantis remains alive after fertilization.
The female lays eggs on trees or tall grass. She has to squeeze them out of her ovipositor.
With the help of a sticky secretion from special glands, it protects the fertilized eggs, which end up in a kind of capsule. The female, depending on the variety, can lay 10-400 eggs.
The capsule or edema can be of various shades from light yellow to gray. After laying eggs, the females soon die. Praying mantis larvae hatch from eggs at varying intervals - from 3 weeks to 6 months.
Photo of a praying mantis
Who do you think this story will be about? About an insect called a praying mantis. Why this six-legged creature was called that, and what the praying mantis insect is - let’s try to figure it out...
Praying mantises are part of the cockroach order; they form a species consisting of approximately 3 thousand species. The insect got its name because of the way it folds its front legs in a special way, which makes it look like a praying person.
Appearance of a praying mantis
- large insects growing up to 11 centimeters in length.
This insect can have different colors - the color of the praying mantis is completely consistent with its habitat, it can match the color of leaves, grass and stones.
When stationary, the praying mantis is very difficult to detect. The predator moves slowly, but if it is in danger, it becomes swift. Once he is at a safe distance, he freezes.
The wings of these insects are well developed, so they fly well, but only males use this method of movement, and they fly at night, and during the day they can occasionally flutter from one branch to another.
The mantis has a head triangular shape, while she is quite mobile. This insect has well-developed eyes, so it sees perfectly. The predator monitors the situation and reacts with lightning speed to any moving object. It begins to approach the victim and then grabs it with its strong limbs. Afterwards all he can do is slowly eat the prey.
Habitat of praying mantises
These insects are common in such parts of the world as: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America.
The lifestyle of praying mantises and their diet
Praying mantises are predators; their main food is their classmates, i.e. - other insects. The largest individuals can attack, and even birds. The predator eats its prey slowly, the feeding process lasts about 3 hours, and the food is digested over the course of a week.
Mantises hunt small insects from ambush. Thanks to the protective coloring, the predator is very difficult to notice. He simply waits for some insect to crawl past him and then grabs it. And praying mantises chase large victims; when they catch up, they jump on their backs, grab them by the head, and begin to slowly eat them.
The praying mantis, despite its “pious” name, is a real predator. Mantises only react to moving targets and are not interested in stationary objects. This predator is incredibly voracious. An adult mantis eats up to 7 cockroaches measuring 1 centimeter at a time. It takes 30 minutes to eat each victim. First, the insect eats soft tissues, and then proceeds to hard ones. The mantis leaves only bits of limbs and wings from the cockroach. The praying mantis can eat softer insects whole.
As a rule, the insect chooses a sedentary lifestyle; if there is enough food, the mantis can live on one tree throughout its life. Praying mantises are most often located on the branches of trees and bushes, but they can also freeze in the grass or directly on the ground.
Praying mantises are very prolific creatures. Reproduction of praying mantises
These insects breed at the end of summer. In our country, common praying mantises mate in August - September. In 50% of cases, during mating, the female eats the male. Females are much larger than males, they need protein, so males are part of their diet.
A female praying mantis lays 100-300 eggs. She glues the eggs with a special adhesive substance, which hardens and forms a capsule. These capsules are called ootheca. The capsule has a solid structure; it sticks to plants or stones and reliably protects the egg from external factors. Optimal temperature and humidity are maintained inside the capsule. In the ooteca, the eggs do not die even when the temperature drops to -18 degrees.
The protective “stand” of the insect gives it its name - the legs are folded like those of a praying person. IN temperate climate The eggs overwinter, and in warm areas the incubation period lasts a month, after which the eggs hatch into larvae. The larvae have small spines on their surface, thanks to which they crawl out of the capsule. When free, the larvae molt. After shedding their skins, they resemble adults, but without wings. The larvae are very mobile and have protective colors.
In most regions, the larvae hatch in April-May. In 2.5 months they have to molt 5 times, only after that they turn into adult insects. The process of puberty takes 2 weeks, and then the males look for females to mate with. The lifespan of praying mantises is 2 months. The males are the first to die; after mating, they stop looking for prey, become lethargic and die. Males live until September, and females until October.
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29.10.2018
This insect is perhaps the most amazing representative of the arthropod order. Currently, entomologists have identified about 2,000 species of mantises that live in various regions of our planet.
Common or religious mantis (lat.Mantis religiosa) inhabits most countries of the European continent (from Portugal to Ukraine), is found in Asian countries, in the Mediterranean countries, on the islands of the Aegean Sea, Cyprus, in Africa and, according to some conflicting evidence, was discovered in Jamaica and Australia.
This insect is absent only in northern latitudes, but can inhabit steppe regions, tropical forests and even rocky deserts (the optimal ambient temperature for the praying mantis ranges from +23 to +30°C).
In the forties of the last century, this predator was brought to New Guinea and the United States to combat agricultural pests, although not all of the population successfully acclimatized to the new conditions.
« Mantis religiosa” literally translated as “religious priest”. This strange name was given to the praying mantis by the Swedish naturalist Carl Lineus. Back in 1758, the famous naturalist drew attention to the habits of the insect and noticed that this predator, being in ambush and watching for its prey, is very reminiscent of a praying man, slavishly bowing his head and folding his arms on his chest. Such unusual behavior of the praying mantis prompted the scientist to assign such an unusual name to the object of study.
Along with the academic name, the praying mantis also has less euphonious names, for example, “Devil’s Horse” or simply “Death” (as insects are called in Spain), which, of course, is associated with its shocking habits and way of life. In this case we're talking about about the notorious behavior of a female in relation to a male, who, after the mating process, kills her “betrothed” by biting off his head and then completely eating him.
Entomological scientists explain this unusual behavior of the female by renewing protein reserves, which she so needs to produce future offspring.
There are also varieties of praying mantis called “Devil’s Flower”, “Devil’s Flower”, “Spiky Flower” and others. All this indicates that mantises are great masters in terms of camouflage and mimicry.
In ancient China, praying mantises have long been considered a symbol of greed and stubbornness, and the ancient Greeks used them to predict what spring would be like.
As a rule, these insects lead a sedentary lifestyle and rarely leave their usual habitats. The only thing that can motivate them to travel is the complete lack of food supply.
Insect size
An adult mantis usually reaches a length of 50 to 75 millimeters, although withThere is also a species of insects ( lat . Ischnomantis gigas), some representatives of which can reach 17 (!) centimeters in length. The giant branch mantis also grows slightly smaller (up to 16 centimeters) ( lat . Heterochaeta orientalis).
Main sexual difference insects is that the male is not only somewhat smaller in size, but also much weaker than the female and has longer whiskers - antennae.
Flight characteristics
The praying mantis has two pairs of wings, which can have different colors and even contain similar patterns. True, it is mainly males who have the ability to fly, because thanks to larger size and overweight females find this skill difficult.
There is also a species of ground mantis ( lat. Geomantis larvoides) which completely lacks wings and, accordingly, any flight abilities.
Insect coloring
Praying mantises have excellent camouflage abilities, so depending on the habitat, the color of insects can vary and include yellow, pinkish, green and brown-gray shades.
Organs of vision
The eyes of the praying mantis are convex and have a complex facet structure. They are located on the sides of the head, while the insect has three more (!) simple eyes, which are located above the base of the mustache.
Moreover, the praying mantis is the only creature on the planet that can turn its head 360°. Thanks to this property, the predator has an extensive overview, allowing the insect to both easily detect prey and timely notice enemies, including those from behind.
In addition, the praying mantis has an ear, although only one, which does not prevent it from having excellent hearing.
Body structure
Since the praying mantis is a predator by nature, it has especially well-developed forelimbs, consisting of trochanters, femur, tibia and tarsus. The trochanter is one of the segments (usually the smallest) that is located between the coxa and the thigh.
On the praying mantis' thigh there are clearly visible sharp spines in three rows, and on the lower leg there is a sharp needle-shaped hook. This “weapon” helps the insect firmly hold its prey.
Hunting objects
The praying mantis attacks small insects (flies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, bees), but is also capable of grabbing prey that is significantly larger than its own size. Therefore more major representatives The species can attack small rodents, frogs, lizards and even birds.
The attack of the praying mantis, as a rule, occurs from an ambush, while it grabs the victim with lightning speed and does not release it from its tenacious forelimbs until it finishes the process of eating.
All types of mantises have an exceptional appetite, and their powerful jaws allow them to eat even very large insects and animals.
In case of danger, the mantis behaves very aggressively, trying to scare away the enemy. For this purpose, it most often assumes a vertical position, protruding its prothorax, and then begins to move its jaws threateningly and make hissing sounds. At the same time, its wings open, its abdomen swells, making the praying mantis look much larger than it actually is.
The most striking representatives of the praying mantis family
1. or religious (lat. Mantis religiosa) has a greenish or brownish body color and reaches seven centimeters in length (the size of males, as a rule, is somewhat smaller and does not exceed six centimeters).
The wings of the praying mantis are well developed, so the flight is short distance is not a big problem for him.
From my relatives this type It is distinguished by the presence of a black round spot on the inner side of the coxae of the front pair of limbs.
Common praying mantises begin the mating process in late summer–early autumn, while the male is actively looking for a female and, having found her, fertilizes.
After mating, the female kills the male (males rarely escape this sad fate), and then finds a secluded place where she lays about 100 embryos at a time, after which she dies. The eggs are located in a special adhesive shell (ootheca), secreted by special glands of the female and which serves as a kind of protective capsule. Thanks to ootheca, eggs can withstand temperatures as low as–20°C.
With the onset of spring warmth, usually in May, insect larvae emerge from the embryos and immediately begin to lead a predatory lifestyle.
They, like adults, hunt from ambush, hiding in the grass or camouflaging on young shoots, taking on color environment.
The larvae attack grasshoppers, butterflies, flies and other small insects, and in the absence or insufficient food supply they can eat their relatives.
2. Chinese mantis(lat. Tenodera sinensis), as the name suggests, lives in China. This is a fairly large species of predator, reaching 15 centimeters in length, and which, unlike its closest relatives, leads an active nocturnal lifestyle, hunting small insects.
The life cycle of the Chinese mantis is 5 to 6 months.
Young individuals are born wingless, their wings appear already in the last stages of molting.
3. Indian flower mantis(lat. Creobroter gemmatus) does not exceed 4 centimeters in length and is considered the smallest representative of the genusCreobroter. This species was described back in 1877 by entomologist Karl Ståhl (member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences).
The flower mantis lives in the humid forests of southern India, Vietnam, Laos and other Asian countries.
This insect has a body that is more elongated than that of its relatives and is greenish or creamy with splashes of white. On the front wings there is a spot similar to an eye, designed to scare away predators.
Because of their attractive color, in India these mantises are kept as pets, placed in small insectariums, where they usually use coconut flakes or peat. In such conditions, insects can live in captivity for about nine months.
IN wildlife Flower mantises, as the name suggests, live on flowers, where they watch for various insects.
4. Orchid mantis(lat. Hymenopus coronatus) due to its unusual and original appearance is considered one of the most attractive representatives of the family.
The insect lives in Malaysia and Thailand, among orchids, and has a striking resemblance in appearance to these flowers.
Due to its unique shape and body coloring, this praying mantis is in high demand among lovers of exotic animals, despite the fact that the insect is quite vicious in nature.
At 8 centimeters in length, the female orchid mantis is usually twice the size of the male.
The orchid mantis has wide, petal-like limbs that allow the insects to remain undetected and attack prey (moths, flies, bees and dragonflies) attracted by the scent of orchids. Moreover, this type of predator is militant and can attack creatures that are twice the size of the mantis itself, for example, lizards and frogs.
Color Hymenopus coronatus, as a rule, light, but can take on different shades depending on the color of the plants. The ability to mimicry is most clearly manifested in young individuals.
The female insect lays embryos (from two to five pieces) in white sacs, and after five to six months, larvae hatch from them, painted in a rich, bright scarlet color. This poisonous coloring scares away enemies. Over time, after several molts, the body of the insects becomes lighter.
Orchid mantises have the ability to jump and can move in dashes.
5. Heterochaete eastern or Spike-Eye(lat . Heterochaeta orientalis) lives in the east of the African continent.
Externally, the insect resembles a twig, so it is very difficult to notice on the plant.
The mantis got its name from the presence of special jagged triangular growths in the form of spikes on which compound eyes are located. This arrangement of the visual organs allows the insect to fix objects from the front, side and back.
Notable is the neck of the insect, which has the appearance of a corrugation and allows the mantis to turn its head in different directions. Thanks to this ability, the predator can look behind itself while remaining completely motionless.
Female heterochaetes are considered giants among their relatives,- He and can grow up to 15 centimeters (with males rarely reaching 12 centimeters in length).
Despite its rather unprepossessing appearance, the insect has an easy-going character, and these insects behave very peacefully and friendly towards their relatives. This type of mantis can be kept in insectariums of several individuals at a time, the main thing is– provide them with sufficient food supply. And the female heterochaete eats her males much less often than other members of the family.
After fertilization, the female forms an ootheca with embryos in the form of a long woven thread, which can reach 12 centimeters in length. One ootheca usually contains from 60 to 70 eggs.
The born heterochaete larvae are quite large in size and some reach a length of one and a half centimeters. At an air temperature of +26°C they develop for about five months.
General life cycle one insect is about 13 months.
· In the 50s of the twentieth century, an attempt was made in the USSR to use praying mantises as a biological agent to protect agricultural plants from harmful insects. Alas, this idea was a fiasco, because along with the pests, the praying mantises destroyed bees and other beneficial insects - pollinators.
· In Chinese martial arts, there is a special fighting style called the “mantis style.” According to legend, it was invented by a peasant who had been watching these predators hunt for a long time.
· Despite the fact that praying mantises are excellent hunters, they themselves often become victims of attack. Their main enemies are birds, snakes and the bats. However, the greatest damage to the population of these insects is caused by their relatives, that is, other mantises.
Type: Arthropods
Class: Insects
Squad: Cockroaches
Suborder: Praying Mantis
Family: Real praying mantises
Subfamily: Mantinae
Tribe: Mantini
Genus: Praying Mantises
View: Common praying mantis (Mantisreligiosa)
Description of the species
The scientific name of the species in Latin is Mantisreligiosa. The word mantis is translated “priest”, “prophet”, religiosa - “religious”. Carl Linnaeus did not choose the name by chance; when waiting for prey, the common mantis or the religious mantis folds its shins into the groove of its thighs. His pose resembles a man frozen in prayer.
The common praying mantis (Mantisreligiosa) belongs to the order Praying Mantis, which includes 2,800 species. The insect's body is narrow and elongated. Males grow up to 43-52 mm, females are much larger - 50-75 mm. Anatomical feature praying mantises is the structure of the forelimbs. Grasping legs with spiny elongated femurs and tibiae are designed for holding prey. The thigh and lower leg in a ligament function on the principle of scissors. On the inside of the coxae of the forelimbs there is a dark spot with a white mark in the middle.
Despite the fact that females are larger than males, males have longer antennae and larger eyes.
The head is triangular, mobile, the insect is able to look back. On the sides there are large, convex compound eyes. In European mantises they have a black pupil. On the forehead there are long thread-like antennae and three simple ocelli. The mouthparts of the gnawing type are directed downward. The common mantis has two pairs of well-developed wings. Light males and young females are capable of flying over considerable distances.
The forewings are narrow and leathery, they replace the elytra. The hind wings are wide, and when at rest they are folded on the back like a fan. The pronotum expands in the upper part, but never covers the head. The abdomen is elongated, soft, consists of 10 segments. On the last segment there are appendages - cerci. There are 10 pairs of spiracles on the sides of the body.
Color and camouflage
The color type of the common mantis is protective. Body color can be green (in 80% of cases), yellow, light or dark brown. Camouflage coloring allows you to blend in with the environment. When the insect is motionless, it completely mimics foliage or a twig. Camouflage serves two functions: it allows you to hunt from ambush and hide from enemies.
Some praying mantises have stunningly complex and effective camouflage patterns that rival any other animal. Some can blend in so well with trees and leaves that they are almost impossible to notice. They even sway, as if leaves and twigs were being shaken by a light breeze. Some of the most fantastic camouflages are those of the violin mantis from India and the orchid mantis from Malaysia. They are lilac-violet or hot pink, interspersed with just the right shade of green and strategically placed dark areas, and can bend their abdomen to create an exact replica of part of the flower. Even experts can mistake them for a flower.
When attacked by an enemy, the mantis opens its wings to increase in size. It sways from side to side and raises its front legs and the edge of its abdomen threateningly. All actions are aimed at scaring away the aggressor. If the enemy is too large, the mantis flies away.
Spreading
Widely distributed in the southern regions of Europe, reaching north to 54° north latitude; Western and Central Asia, Kazakhstan, North Africa, in the south of the African continent it reaches the Transvaal and the Cape Land (South Africa). Thanks to man, it went far beyond its range, as it was brought by merchant ships to North America and Australia. In Russia, distributed in the European part (south of 50 - 54° N), in the Caucasus, in steppe zone southern Urals, southern Siberia and the Far East.
Types of praying mantises
There are more than 2,000 species of praying mantises.
Below is a description of several varieties:
- Common praying mantis (lat. Mantis religiosa) lives in most countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. Its distribution area includes Portugal and Spain, Italy and France, Turkey, Germany, Austria and Poland, as well as numerous islands Mediterranean Sea. This species is found in Sudan and Egypt, in Israel and Iran, as well as in Russia, starting from southern regions and ending with the Primorsky Territory. Introduced populations have been recorded in Australia and North America. A distinctive feature of this species is a black spot, which is located on both coxae of the front pair of legs on the inside. Often a light mark is visible in the center of such a spot.
- Chinese mantis (Chinese bowing mantis) (lat. Tenodera aridifolia, Tenodera sinensis) is an endemic species that is naturally distributed throughout China. Adult female praying mantises reach 15 cm in length; males are much more modest in size. The color of these insects does not depend on gender and can be green or brown. Nymphs and juveniles lack wings. Chinese mantises acquire the ability to fly only after several molts.
- Praying mantis Creobroter meleagris widespread in Bhutan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan and other countries in the South Asian region. Adults can reach 5 centimeters in length. The main body color of the praying mantis is cream or white. Light-colored stripes of varying widths run throughout the body, head and paws. Brown. The elytra and pronotum are colored olive-green.
- Praying mantis Creobroter gemmatus, which is also called Indian flower mantis, is a typical inhabitant rain forests India, Vietnam and other South Asian countries. Mature males of this species of mantis reach a length of 38 mm, females are larger and grow up to 40 mm. The body of the insect is elongated, and the width of the pronotum is noticeably less than its length. There are several spikes of different heights on the hips. The body is colored cream with brown or greenish spots.
- Praying mantis Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii lives in areas with hot and humid climates. Other unofficial names for this insect are spiky or spiny flower mantis. This species lives in the countries of southern and eastern Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, as well as Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion. The size of adults is quite modest. The length of females does not exceed 40 mm, and males - 30 mm. The coloring of these mantises is heterogeneous - it combines white, cream, pinkish, yellow and green tones.
- Orchid mantis (lat. Hymenopus coronatus) distributed in the tropical forests of India, Malaysia and Indonesia. This insect is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the order. It received its name for its external resemblance to orchid flowers, on which it hides in anticipation of its prey. A sexually mature female praying mantis has quite impressive dimensions and grows up to 80 mm in length. The size of males is much more modest and does not exceed 40 mm. A distinctive feature of this species is its wide forelimbs, small head and thread-like antennae.
- Praying Mantis Idolomantisdiabolica, which is also called Damn flower or Devil's flower lives in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and other countries of East Africa, where it lives on the branches of bushes and trees. Adult mantises of this species have quite large sizes. Females can reach a length of 14 cm with a wingspan of about 16 cm. Male mantises are slightly smaller in size than females and rarely exceed 11 cm in length. The color of these insects can vary from various shades of green to light brown. The spines located on the thighs of the front legs have different lengths. Three shorter ones are visible between the long spines.
- Eastern heterochaeta (lat. Heterochaeta orientalis), which also has an unofficial name spike-eyed mantis, lives in most African countries. The female mantis reaches 15 cm in length. Males are smaller in size and grow up to 12 cm. Due to the fact that these insects live in the branches of bushes, their appearance has unusual features that make them resemble twigs or twigs. In addition, these African mantises have spines located not only on the thighs and shins of the forelimbs, but also along the upper edges of the head, which is shaped like a triangle. This gives the impression that the insect's eyes are wrapped around these spines.
- Praying mantis Empusa pennata- a species from the genus Empusa, which is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Africa, in most Asian countries, as well as in Portugal, Spain and Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. A distinctive feature of the praying mantis is a peculiar high growth on its head, resembling a kind of crown in shape. Males have comb-type antennae, and the head is crowned with additional spines that look like feathers. The color of the praying mantis depends on the environment and can change. These insects are characterized by green, yellow or pink colors, as well as various shades of brown.
- Phyllocrania praying mantisparadoxa lives in rather arid regions of Africa, located south of the Sahara Desert, as well as on the island of Madagascar, where it lives in the branches of bushes and trees. Thanks to its peculiar body shape, reminiscent of a plant leaf, it can easily hide from natural enemies and successfully hunt small insects. This camouflage is provided by special outgrowths on the body and head of the mantis.
- Mantis Metallyticussplendidus lives in India, Malaysia, Sumatra and other countries in Southeast Asia. Hunts for prey in the branches of trees or shrubs, as well as under tree bark. Mature male mantises can reach a length of about 2 cm. Females are slightly larger and grow up to 3 cm in length. The body of these insects is slightly flattened from the back to the abdomen.
- Praying Mantis Amelesspallanziania widespread in Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, San Marino, and Greece. The habitat of this species also includes Cyprus, Malta and other countries of Southern Europe and North Africa. The size of these insects is quite modest, with the length of males rarely exceeding 1 cm, and females can reach a length of 3 cm. You can also distinguish a male from a female by the presence of wings.
- Mantis Blepharopsismendica, which also has an unofficial name thistle mantis, found in Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and other countries in North Africa and southwestern Asia. These insects live in desert as well as mountainous areas. Males are slightly smaller in size than females, which can reach a length of 5.2-6.1 cm. In addition, the antennae of males have a comb structure.
- Praying mantis Rhombodera basalis lives in tropical zone Malaysia, Thailand and India. Adult females can grow up to 8-9 cm in length, males are slightly smaller. Characteristic feature The mantis is a slightly enlarged pronotum, resembling a diamond shape. The body and wing covers of the insect are colored turquoise-green with a blue tint.
- Sarawak mantis / Hestiasula sarawaka. The Saravar mantis, which lives on the island of Kalimantan, in addition to its frightening defensive pose, makes specific sounds. In this mantis, all parts of the body visible from above at rest are gray or brown in color. When irritated, the insect spreads its front legs and moves both pairs of wings to the side.
- Malaysian leaf-shaped mantis (lat. Deroplatys dessicata) widespread both in the tropical forests of Malaysia or Indonesia, and in the humid thickets of Sumatra and Borneo. Female Malaysian leaf mantises are much larger in size than males. Their length can reach 15 cm, while males grow to a maximum of 6 cm. This species has good camouflage abilities due to the special shape of the head and body, which give it a resemblance to withered foliage.
- Mantis Deroplatys lobata lives in the rainforests of Malaysia, as well as in tropical thickets on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Prefers to hunt in the foliage of trees or small shrubs, as well as in their upturned roots. By appearance these insects strongly resemble withered leaves, which serves them not only as an excellent camouflage that protects them from enemies, but also helps them hide and wait for prey.
- Praying mantis Aethalochroa insignis lives in India. This is very large insect, the length of which is 15-20 cm, including antennae. The praying mantis' excellent camouflage makes it look like a dry blade of grass.
Lifestyle
The praying mantis lives and hunts like a typical ambush hunter. The predator freezes until the prey is within reach. It grabs prey with its front legs and starts eating from the head. Males are careful in choosing hunting objects; they attack flies, locusts and other small insects. Large females often attack victims almost equal in size to them. Aggressive individuals attack lizards, birds, and frogs. They jump on the reptile's back and bite its head. The fight continues for several minutes, in the process the hunter can become the victim. If the outcome is successful, the prey is eaten within 2-3 hours. The female remains well fed for up to 4-5 days.
You can meet Mantisreligiosa in the forest, steppe herbs, and meadows. Insects do not even avoid large cities, where they have adapted to live in grass, parks and gardens. Favorite habitats of the common mantis tall trees and bush. Insects prefer a sedentary lifestyle. They do not leave their usual territory, they move between tiers. For movement, four limbs are used, less often wings.
Given enough food, they spend their entire lives on one plant. Insects have excellent vision, they detect the slightest movement in environment. Camouflage coloring allows you to get closer to your prey unnoticed. Hunting takes place during the daytime. All soft tissues of the prey are eaten, leaving chitinous legs and wings. How long a common mantis lives depends on the amount of food and gender. The age of females is longer; on average, representatives of the species are natural conditions live 2-3 months. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.
Nutrition
Praying Mantises – predatory insects. They catch their victims with strong front legs covered with sharp spines. The praying mantis, waiting for prey with its front legs “humbly” folded, slightly resembles a person praying - hence the name of the insects. Female praying mantises are larger, more voracious and more aggressive than males. Males feed mainly on small insects, and huge females often attack even such relatively large animals as lizards, frogs and birds.
Reproduction
People have repeatedly observed how they kill and eat their partners during or after mating. In fact, in most cases, insect mating occurs normally. And if the female eats the male, she does it “out of forgetfulness,” mistaking him for an opportune victim. The fact is that when a female develops eggs, her body requires additional amounts of protein and at this time she becomes especially voracious.
Before mating, the male praying mantis performs an intricate dance in front of the female and sends her an odorous signal, releasing special substances into the air. This helps him somehow protect his life: otherwise the female would probably take him for a tasty prey.
After mating, the female praying mantis lays several dozen eggs. But before that, she builds special “bags” for them from foamy protein material – ootheca. Foamy liquid is produced by special glands in the abdomen of the insect. First, the female attaches a ball of foam to a tree branch. While the foam is wet and soft, it creates several small chambers (recesses) in it and lays one egg in each chamber. After some time, the foam hardens in air and turns into durable material, resembling polystyrene. Ootecae protect eggs from adverse external influences: they can withstand freezing temperatures and are not destroyed by pesticides.
The mantis larvae (nymphs) hatching from the eggs are selected from the ootheca through a single hole at its apex. Praying mantis larvae are very similar to adult insects, but lack wings. The nymphs of some mantises live in nests and disguise themselves as ants.
Enemies of Mantises
When attacked by an enemy (snake, bird, bat or chameleon) or when meeting with a fellow rival, the mantises try to scare the enemy. They take a rather intimidating pose, spreading their wings like a fan, putting their front grasping legs forward and lifting the end of their abdomen up. This pose can be accompanied by threatening sounds. For example, the Sarawak mantis (lat. Hestiasula sarawaka) rustles its wings loudly and makes a clicking noise created by the contact of the upper part of the forelimb with the thigh. If the enemy turns out to be much stronger, the mantis prefers to retreat and flies away, however, seeing its advantage, it bravely confronts the enemy and often emerges victorious in such a fight.
Mantis and man
For example, it is widely believed that praying mantises only kill “harmful” insects, but this is not true. Praying mantises are equally eager to feast on, for example, honey bees and garden pests.
There are about 1,800 species of praying mantises. Two species are widespread in the United States - the introduced Chinese mantis, 8–13 cm long, and the native Carolina mantis, reaching 5 cm in length. Scientists disagree on how to classify the insect family Mantidae. Some group them with other insects in a squad Dictyoptera. Others place them in a separate detachment - Mantodea.
Evolutionists claim that praying mantises evolved from the same ancestor as cockroaches, but this is based on belief rather than observable and verifiable evidence.
Once the obligatory tribute to evolution has been paid, most scientists marvel at the amazing design of the praying mantis. For example, in reference to the lightning speed and strong muscles of the praying mantis's front legs, the researchers use words such as "superbly equipped," "sophisticated," and that "their front legs are amazingly designed."
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.
Keeping praying mantises at home
Terrarium
It would be a very exotic and unusual act to get yourself a pet praying mantis, wouldn’t it? However, there are people who have such “pets” and if you also want to join them, then the first thing you will have to take care of is the terrarium. Suitable for a relatively small glass or plastic terrarium with a mesh lid, its dimensions should be at least three times the size of the mantis itself. Inside it would be nice to place twigs or small plants on which the praying mantis will climb like trees.
Temperature
Praying mantises are heat-loving insects, so optimal temperature for them it will be from +23 to +30 C. You can use special heaters for terrariums.
Humidity
Also, do not forget about humidity, which is also important for these insects. The optimal humidity for praying mantises is 40-60%, and to maintain it, you can place a small container of water inside the terrarium.
What to feed praying mantises at home?
Live food. Crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and flies are perfect. Some species of praying mantises will not mind eating ants. And at the same time, they need to be fed regularly, so keeping such “pets” can be somewhat troublesome. But you don’t need to give praying mantises water, since they get the liquid the body needs from food.
There are more than 2,400 species of mantises on our planet, all of them have common ancestor with cockroaches and termites. The conducted research proves that the praying mantis insect descended from one species of ancient beetle, and from the point of view of evolution, they are relatively young, the first fossils date back to the Cretaceous period. Most people know the praying mantis beetle from the unusual behavior of the female during the mating period, but this insect still has many secrets.
Why is the insect called a praying mantis?
The official name of the beetle was given by the famous Swedish naturalist Carl Lineus; in Latin it sounds like “Mantis religiosa”. The translation literally means “religious priest”, and a shorter one has come into use – mantis.
Interesting!
In 1758, the scientist spent a long time observing insects in the tropics, where he noticed a beetle sitting gracefully in ambush. The front legs were folded as if he were praying in a temple, hence the name.
But besides the academic name, the insect has other nicknames:
- in Spain it is called the devil's horse or death;
- Insects that look like orchids are called orchidaceae.
In each locality, praying mantises are called differently; it is simply impossible to list everything in one article.
Structure and characteristics
A photo of a praying mantis cannot be confused with other insects; certain structural features are peculiar to it. Some still believe that the beetle is alien creature, since some of its characteristics are unique and unusual for terrestrial insects.
All representatives of mantises are united by the following characteristics:
- first of all, it is an elongated body shape, which is not characteristic of other arthropods;
- its head is triangular in shape, and the beetle can rotate it 360 degrees;
- The praying mantis has one ear, but its hearing is very good;
- praying mantises have five eyes - two located on both sides of the head and three more between the antennae;
- the antennae themselves can be different, it all depends on the species, there are insects with comb, filamentous, feathery ones;
- two pairs of wings are developed in almost all species of mantises, but only males use them more often;
- insects have well-developed forelimbs, the structure of which is not simple, the components are the same for all: trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus;
- The insect's circulatory system is primitive, the reason for this being the unusual respiratory system, which consists of a tracheal system.
Dimensions
Mantises vary in size, but usually the female is larger than the male, which allows her to handle him this way during mating. It is in size that the external gender difference manifests itself.
Interesting!
The largest species is Ischnomantis gigas, reaching a length of 17 cm; this mantis lives in Africa. The male is slightly smaller in size than the female and can reach 14 cm in length.
Giant species of mantises live in more humid climate, the middle zone grows small species, only up to 1.5 cm long.
Color
The insect perfectly adapts to the environment in which it lives and develops; a typical grass insect living among green shoots will have the same color of the body and legs. The earthen subspecies is brown in color, and orchid lovers are similar to the flowers of this plant.
Each type has its own character traits in color, which allow them to differ from other representatives.
Diet
The common mantis is not a typical herbivorous insect, but is classified as a carnivore. It is capable of sitting in ambush for a long time, and then suddenly attacking its prey, which is larger than the insect itself in size.
The praying mantis diet contains:
- bees;
- butterflies;
- beetles.
Larger representatives attack frogs, small rodents, and small birds. Praying mantises can eat their relatives, this is especially true during the mating season and the drinking period.
Interesting!
Cases of attacks by praying mantises on hummingbirds, frogs and lizards, and mice have been recorded more than once.
For some animals, beetles themselves are food; they are hunted by birds, snakes, bats, as well as mantises themselves.
Where does the praying mantis live?
The insect can survive under almost any conditions, therefore it is distributed across all continents globe except Antarctica. The northern regions are unsuitable for life, but the reason is not at all low temperatures. A meager food supply will not be able to provide the praying mantis with enough food; they will eat each other.
The tropics with high temperatures and appropriate air humidity are considered the best for praying mantises. This is why tropical forests South America, Africa, Asia have many varieties of beetles of this species. Rocky deserts and steppe areas also contribute to the reproduction of the insect.
Reproduction
This is where the most interesting things begin for many; many know the facts that characterize the insect from a not very good side.
The total lifespan of an individual individual lasts no more than a year, during which short term the insect needs to grow, feed itself, protect itself from predators and be able to leave offspring.
Mating season and mating
The mating season for praying mantises begins in the fall; during this period, the male uses his sense of smell to look for a partner who is ready to mate. Beforehand, he performs a dance for the female, with which he demonstrates his full readiness and puberty. Only after this does the mating process take place, during which the female, without a drop of regret, bites off her partner’s head, often even before the end of the procedure.
Interesting!
Eating a partner does not occur due to the female’s dissatisfaction; thus, the praying mantis replenishes the reserves of certain proteins in the body necessary for laying eggs and enveloping them with a special film.
Laying eggs
After a certain period of time, the female will lay eggs; she usually does this before winter. The insect envelops the offspring with a special sticky substance secreted by its own glands. In science, this substance is called ootheca; it can protect eggs from mechanical stress and protect them from various vagaries of the weather.
The larvae stay in the eggs for different periods of time depending on the species; this period lasts from 3 weeks to 6 months.
At one time, one female praying mantis can lay from 10 to 400 eggs.
Stages of development
Praying mantises do not immediately hatch from eggs; before this there is another period of development:
- In the laid eggs, an insect larva develops until spring;
- Having hatched, the larva becomes a nymph, a smaller copy of its parents;
- After 4-8 molts, the nymph turns into an adult insect.
Benefits and harms
The praying mantis as an insect does more good than harm. Its diet consists of insect pests, which it destroys in large quantities. But the beetle can also cause harm; by eating harmful insects, it does not disdain bees. Just a few praying mantises can destroy an entire swarm of these beneficial insects in a short period.
We have found out why the praying mantis is useful and dangerous, but it is interesting to know what representatives of a particular species look like. What structural features do they have and how are they different?
Kinds
More than 2,000 species of insects have been officially described, the most interesting ones are presented below.
Common praying mantis
This species is the most common; insects live in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Distinctive features are:
- sizes larger than average, female reaches 7 cm, male 6 cm;
- individuals have a green or brown color;
- the wings are well developed, every mantis can fly from branch to branch, regardless of gender;
- abdomen ovoid.
A peculiarity of the common mantis is the presence of a dark spot on the front pair of legs on the coxae from the inside.
Chinese mantis
The homeland and permanent habitat is China, which gave the name to the species. The color is combined, the insect has green and brown shades throughout the body. A special feature is its exclusively nocturnal lifestyle; during the daytime, the mantis sleeps. The wings are poorly developed, the adult goes through several molts and only then acquires the ability to fly.
It is difficult to confuse the Chinese mantis with another species due to its outstanding size: the female grows up to 16 cm, the males are much smaller.
Praying mantis Creobroter meleagris
The insects' habitat is southwestern Asia; they prefer moist forests. The length of an adult individual is no more than 5 cm, but the color is simply amazing: irregular stripes of brown and cream color are located throughout the body. The praying mantis is distinguished by its wings, each of which has one large and small cream-colored spot. The larger spot resembles an eye with a pupil.
Orchid mantis
The name itself speaks for itself; the favorite habitat of this mantis is these flowers. Insects are very similar to orchids; sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which is a flower and which is a beetle.
An important point will be the ratio of the sizes of the female and the male; the fairer sex is exactly twice as large.
Spiny flower mantis
In southern and eastern Africa you can find an insect similar to a praying mantis, only its body will have many spines. These processes help the insect to survive, the distinctive features are the color, the upper wings have a small spiral pattern, which some compare to an eye.
The insect mantis has a large distribution area and many species that will attract attention with their unusual color. And their help in destruction is simply invaluable.
