• Mantis mostly an arboreal insect.

• Predatory carnivore, feeding upon other arthropods.

• Body is lean, divisible into Head, Thorax and Abdomen.

• Head is triangular and small, freely movable.

• Thorax is 3 segmented – 3 pairs of legs and 2 pairs of wings.

• Prothorax is unusually elongated.

• Last abdominal segment bears a pair of anal cerci.

• Hunting posture similar to praying posture of human being – hence the name ‘Praying mantis’.

• Female is a Cannibal.

• Remarkable for their cryptic colouration and concealing protective mimicry.