Meet
Mantis religiosa – the Praying mantis or European
mantis. Named for prominent front legs that fold together suggesting
prayer – this is a fascinating member of the insect world. This
specimen was just under a couple of inches in length sporting bright
green coloration. The size suggests that this is a male.
Praying mantises possess stereo vision (they see in 3D) and thanks to the placement of their eyes, they also have a wide field of vision. They’re also the only insect capable of turning their head from side to side without moving the rest of the body. This is an advantage when hunting - allowing for minimal movement when stalking prey.
This critter is a carnivore and dines-upon live food. As a gardener I suppose this presents an opportunity for helpful pest control but as prey generalists they also eat beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Besides, their propensity for cannibalism keeps their numbers few and far between.
Around 90% of the predatory species of mantises participate in sexual cannibalism. Adult males typically outnumber females at first, but their numbers may be fairly equivalent later in the adult stage. This is possibly a consequence of females selectively chowing on the smaller males. The female may begin feeding by biting off the male's head (as they do with regular prey). If mating has commenced prior to the beheading the male's movements may become even more vigorous in its delivery of sperm.
In many cultures a mantid is a symbol of stillness. And as a consequence it is associated with meditation and calming of the mind.
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