Leo’s Entomology Corner

Little Aliens on Earth: The Praying Mantis 

By Leo Mascia | November 2024

Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. There is a lot unknown and a bit of misinformation out there about this apex invertebrate. First and foremost it is not illegal to kill a praying mantis, though there's no reason to do so, they are not and never have been endangered. 

The fact that most know about the cabalistic behavior of the mantis is true! During mating, if the female mantis is hungry she will turn around and begin eating the male headfirst. Talk about taking her out to eat first. Mantids will also eat their children after they hatch, a few will survive though as 30 to as many as 300 mantis nymphs can hatch out of one Ootheca, the mantis egg case. Out of the 30-300 nymphs only about 5 survive in the wild, due to starvation or cannibalism, either from the mother or siblings, it's evident that the dynamics in mantis familys tend to be violent. That is not a family reunion I'd like to attend. 

These little aliens come in all shapes and sizes, some stranger than others. The largest of which is the Toxodera denticulata or the dragon flower mantis, who has been known to reach a body length of 7.8 inches. The smallest of them is the Bolbe pygmaea, also known as the common ground mantis, which is about 1 centimeter long when fully grown.

The range of differences the invertebrate shows throughout species is astronomical, much having to do with the environment they inhabit. Mantids native to tropical and floral habitats will often resemble a flower or moss. Mantis that live in Forests will often resemble branches, leaves or dead leafs. Some even dead leafs will observe the environment around them and change their appearance in their next molt to better blend in with the surrounding colors.

It is crazy to think that such a strange and versatile creature can live here on earth. Even more, if you don't mind a more exotic pet, they make fantastic pets, if not short lived. Most only live up to 6 months to a year in captivity, but I count myself lucky to be a part of my creepy crawlers little lives.