Mantis insects, commonly referred to as Praying Mantises, belong to the Mantodea order and boast an average lifespan of one year. Their unique anatomy includes triangular heads with bulging eyes to enable 3D vision an intriguing fact about mantises!
Have you heard the fact that female mantises eat their male partners after mating? While this might shock and surprise some of us, we have some lesser-known facts about mantises here that will surely take you by surprise! More interesting trivia on these remarkable animals is here.
9 Must-Know Facts About Mantis
1: There Are Over 2,400 Species of Praying Mantises Worldwide
There are over 2,400 species of mantis worldwide, spread among approximately 460 genera and 33 families. Although their appearance varies dramatically, many fascinating biological and behavioral characteristics remain. Notable mantis species include European Mantis, Carolina Mantis, Chinese Mantis, and Dead Leaf Mantis, each possessing distinctive attributes.
2: The Mantises We See Most Often in the U.S. Are Exotic Species
Though neither the Chinese (Tenodera aridifolia) nor European (Mantis religiosa) mantis originated in America, both are now prolific species here. The Chinese mantis is North America’s largest mantis species, having originated in Philadelphia around 80 years ago and Rochester, NY, 100 years ago, respectively.
3: Mantises Can Rotate Their Heads 180 Degrees
Mantises have a fantastic ability to rotate their heads by about 180 degrees. Their long, thin body serves as the center point for their bodies, which resemble human necks. This gives the appearance that their bodies contain two neck-like structures that help the mantis move around freely.
Mantises are unique insects with flexible joints connecting their head to the thorax. These joints enable them to turn their heads 180 degrees without changing any other part of their bodies, giving them a nearly 360-degree view of their environment. This trait aids mantises in finding prey while keeping them vigilant against potential threats such as predators. Mantises use this trait effectively, both in locating prey efficiently and staying vigilant against threats like predators.
4: Mantises Excel in Camouflage
Mantises, in particular, excel at camouflage—particularly leaf mimicry. Their varied hues, from green to brown, allow them to seamlessly integrate with their surroundings—flower mantises blend in seamlessly with flowers, while orchid mantises camouflage themselves as orchid blooms. Such astounding abilities help mantises avoid predators while ambushing prey for survival.
5: Praying Mantises Have One Ear Near Their Front Legs
Just to further pique your surprise, one of the unique characteristics of mantis insects is their singular ear often known as an auditory cyclops! Most mantid species possess only one ear located between their mid- and hind legs below their belly area.
However, these ears differ greatly from those of mammals: instead, they use special sensory organs designed specifically to detect sounds and vibrations in their environment, helping detect prey animals and aiding mating processes. Mantises possess hearing abilities capable of hearing high-frequency sounds and pinpointing their direction or frequency with precision.
6: Praying Mantises Have Excellent Vision
Praying mantises boast impressive vision, thanks to their two compound eyes, which have over 10,000 ommatidia per eye and dense areas of photoreceptor cells, which allow them to focus and track prey efficiently.
Their 3D vision system gives them an edge, enabling them to measure distance and depth to spot approaching prey accurately and achieve success as hunters. It plays an integral part in their hunting success.
7: Female Mantises Often Eat the Male After Mating
Unsurprisingly, some mantises exhibit shocking forms of sexual cannibalism after mating, specifically when female mantises consume male mantises after mating for additional nutrients and protein needed for egg production, although such behavior only accounts for 30-35% of matings.
8: Mantises Have “Raptorial Legs” To Grasp Prey
Praying mantises utilize two spiked forelegs known as “raptorial legs” to catch and hold prey. The sharp spikes enable precise movements, and their joint structure permits quick changes.
Mantises are deadly predators. When hunting their prey, mantises use either their abdomen or an arm between the head and thorax as platforms from which to strike out with sharp-spined raptorial legs and grab bees and flies swiftly and accurately.
9: Female Mantises Lay Eggs in a Foamy Case for Protection Until Hatching
Female praying mantises lay their eggs in a foamy liquid substance known as an ootheca, which hardens into protective casings to shelter up to 400 eggs attached to shrubs or weeds. While all eggs don’t hatch at once, those that do appear gradually dry up before dispersing quickly in order to escape predatory siblings who could otherwise threaten to predate them.
Conclusion
Mantises, small green to brown-hued omnivorous insects that live among us and feed off organic matter, are incredible feats of nature. Boasting over 2,400 species, mantis display remarkable adaptations that range from their raptorial legs and 180-degree head swivel capacity to exceptional 3D vision capabilities; herein lie facts about mantis that shed some light on some of their remarkable features and adaptations.
FAQs
What is unique about mantis?
- Mantises can twitch their heads 180 degrees.
- Their raptorial legs help them capture prey.
- Female mantises sometimes consume male mantises after mating.
- Praying mantises to possess superior vision.
- These insects excel at camouflaging themselves.
- Praying mantises have one ear near their front leg.
How long does a mantis live?
Mantises typically live 10 months to one year with their defense mechanism helping them remain alive for as much as 1 year.
How fast is a mantis?
Mantis can travel about 1.5 miles per hour.
Why is it called a praying mantis?
The praying mantis is named after its distinctive, protruding front legs, which bend and intertwine into prayerful positions.