The
Praying Mantis gained its name from the long bent front legs which when held
together looks like it is in a praying position. They have a triangular head,
long neck and amazingly the mantis can turn its head 180 degrees which allows
this insect to scan around.
The
praying mantis is usually green or brown and can camouflage well on plants,
trees and leaves. The mantis uses their front legs to capture their prey, and
have fast refluxes which make it really difficult trying to witness the
capturing of their prey.
The praying mantis eats moths, grass hoppers,
crickets, flies and other small insects, and as famously known for, will eat
their own kind. The female will eat her mate just after or during mating, and
YET this does not turn off males from mating.
Researchers have discovered that the male thrust
faster after it has been decapitated, and other scientists have found after the
males head has been removed and eaten the body can continue to mate for up to
eight hours!!!
It is believed that cannibalism during mating boosts
female reproduction by 40%!!!
