The praying mantis looks like a peaceful monk, but it acts like a ruthless killer. Uniquely, these insects possess alien-like features and abilities that set them apart from the rest of the bug world. Furthermore, they serve as master masters of disguise that can vanish instantly into leaves or flowers. Consequently, their predatory skills have fascinated humans for centuries. Explore these fascinating details about the gardener's best friend.
Praying mantis
Surprisingly, Praying mantis possess only one ear. This auditory organ sits in the center of their chest between their legs rather than on their head. Therefore, they can hear ultrasonic pulses from bats, which helps them avoid becoming a snack during night flights.
They can turn their heads a full 180 degrees. No other insect shares this ability to look over its shoulder. Consequently, this flexibility allows them to scan their surroundings for prey without moving the rest of their body.
Females notoriously eat the males during mating. While this behavior happens less frequently in the wild than in captivity, the female sometimes bites the head off her partner. Shockingly, the male body can continue to mate even after losing its head.
They are the only invertebrates with 3D vision. Their large, compound eyes provide stereoscopic vision, which allows them to judge depth perfectly. Thus, they can calculate the exact distance to a fly before they strike.
Ideally, farmers love them for pest control. Because they possess a ravenous appetite, they eat beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers that destroy crops. However, they do not discriminate and will also eat helpful insects like ladybugs and bees.
Scientifically, they are close cousins to cockroaches. Despite their elegant appearance, DNA testing confirms they share a common ancestor with roaches and termites. Together, scientists group these three insects into the superorder Dictyoptera.
Their eyes change color at night. During the day, their eyes appear light green or tan. However, in the dark, pigments shift to let more light in, which turns their eyes a deep black color.
Orchid mantises look exactly like flowers. Evolution designed these specific mantises to mimic the pink and white petals of the orchid. Therefore, prey insects fly directly to them, thinking they are landing on a safe flower to drink nectar.
Impressively, they can snatch hummingbirds out of the air. Larger species grow big enough to target small vertebrates like frogs, lizards, and small birds. Cruelly, they often eat the brain of the bird first.
A martial arts style mimics their movements. Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu bases its techniques on the insect’s “hooking” arms and rapid strikes. Legend says a Shaolin monk created the style after watching a mantis fight a cicada.
Their strike moves faster than the blink of an eye. A mantis can extend its forelegs to grab prey in roughly 50 to 70 milliseconds. Consequently, the victim usually finds itself trapped in the spiked legs before it even registers the movement.
They spend the winter as eggs in a foam case. In the fall, the female lays her eggs in a protective substance called an ootheca. This foam hardens into a tough shell that protects the offspring from freezing temperatures until spring.
Nymphs sometimes eat their own siblings. When the babies hatch, they are incredibly hungry and will eat anything that moves. If food is scarce, the stronger siblings will consume the weaker ones to survive.
The name Praying mantis comes from their resting posture. They hold their front legs together in a folded position that resembles a person in prayer. Ironically, this holy pose serves as the “ready position” for a lethal attack.
Finally, they have two brains. A main brain sits in the head, but a collection of nerve cells called a ganglion controls the legs near the abdomen. This setup allows the body to function independently if the head is severed.
