What’s all in a Name?
There are about 2,400 described species of mantids in the world. People commonly call this type of insect a mantis, though the term “mantis” is actually a specific genus of mantids. So, technically not all mantids are mantises. Mantids are also known as praying mantids as their folded forelegs give the impression that they are praying when sitting on a branch. Many species of mantids have creative names that describe what their camouflaging abilities make them look like. For example, here at the Minnesota Zoo, we have orchid mantids that look like orchid flowers and violin mantids that have a similar body shape to a violin instrument.
Common Features Among all Mantids
Praying mantids have their own unique adaptations in the bug world. Mantids have spiny raptorial forelegs used in grabbing prey, leathery wings and a triangle shaped head. They have a flexible neck called a prothorax that can turn 180 degrees allowing them to scan for predators and prey while remaining undetected. Did you know that mantids, like other insects, usually have five eyes? They have two large compound eyes for detecting movement and three small simple eyes for detecting light. Mantids are known for their impressive camouflage abilities. Some look like dead leaves, while others look like flowers. Praying mantids, as in most insect groups, exhibit what is known as sexual dimorphism where males and females look different in size or coloration. For mantids, females are larger than the males and have shorter wings if she has any. Learn more about why mantids are incredible critters below.
Mantids undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Females will lay a foamy egg case called an ootheca that can contain 10-400 eggs depending on the species. Nymphs, who look like miniature wingless adults, will hatch from the egg case and mature into adults through a series of molts. Molting is when an insect must first shed its exoskeleton before growing. Insect skin is not stretchy like humans, so removing this outside layer allows the insect to grow twice its size. A mantid’s lifespan from egg to adult can last a few months to over a year depending on the species and the climate they live in. Females don’t commonly eat males during mating in the wild, though this can occur in captivity when food is limiting.
All species of mantids are carnivorous in that they eat other animals. Most mantids will consume a variety of insects including moths, crickets, grasshoppers and flies. Some will even eat larger prey such as birds, amphibians, scorpions, lizards, snakes, fish and rodents. Mantids can be highly cannibalistic when food supplies are in short demand. When it comes to catching their food, mantids are either sit and wait predators or active hunters. They use their well-adapted spiny forelegs and scissor-like jaws to catch and consume their prey.
While praying mantids are out looking for their own prey, they have to be mindful of lurking predators. Praying mantids have a lot of different predators including individuals of their own kind. Mantids are fed upon by bats, birds, lizards, rodents, spiders and snakes.
The conservation status of many mantid species has not been evaluated and little is known about them. What scientists do know is that mantids are experiencing loss of habitat as the forests they live in are reduced with increasing human populations. Currently there is only one Spanish species of mantid listed as near threatened.
While some species of mantids may be rare in their natural habitats, a few have been introduced to other parts of the world. In the United States, the Chinese Mantid and European Mantid were brought in a pest control agents on agricultural fields and are now wide spread. In addition to using mantids as pest control agents, there is also an exotic pet trade of mantids and some species are bred in captivity.
Meet a few Mantids at the Minnesota Zoo
Giant Asian Mantid (Hierodula membranacea)
Giant Asian mantids are one of our more fierce species of mantids. They are not afraid of showing off their spiny forelegs when grabbing their prey during feeding times.
Range: Southeast Asia
Habitat: Rainforest, found in shrubs and trees
Size: Females are around 9 cm and males are about 8 cm long
Diet: Any other arthropod half the mantid’s size or smaller. Fed large crickets at the Zoo.
Longevity: A female may live 12 months or longer, where males usually live between 6-7 months.
Reproduction: A female can lay 4-8 oothecae in her life span containing up to 200 nymphs each.
Violin Mantid (Gongylus gongylodes)
Violin mantids are excellent at camouflaging their bodies to look like dead leaves on branches. Unlike most species of mantids, the violin mantid is one species that is communal and does not indulge in cannibalism.
Range: Southeast Asia (India, Java, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand)
Habitat: Hot, dry environments. Found in shrubs and trees.
Size: Females are 9-11 cm and males are 7-9 cm long.
Diet: Flying insects (flies, moths, butterflies) in the wild. Fed small crickets at the Zoo.
Longevity: Females live 8-12 months and males live 3-6 months after maturing.
Reproduction: Females will lay 6-15 oothecae in a life span each hatching 15-30 nymphs.
Orchid Mantid (Hymenopus coronatus)
Orchid mantids are one species that is characterized by brilliant colorations. Newly hatched nymphs are red and black in color and change to white or pinkish colors after their first molt. Orchid mantids are specialized in mimicking flowers like the orchid. They have lobed legs that resemble flower petals.
Range: Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Indonesia)
Habitat: Rain forests, found on flowers and leaves.
Size: Females are 6 cm and males are 3 cm in size.
Diet: Flying insects visiting flowers. Fed small crickets at the Zoo.
Longevity: Females live 8 months and males live 5-6 months.
Reproduction: One ootheca can produce 50-100 nymphs.
Praying mantids have their own unique adaptations in the bug world. Mantids have spiny raptorial forelegs used in grabbing prey, leathery wings and a triangle shaped head. They have a flexible neck called a prothorax that can turn 180 degrees allowing them to scan for predators and prey while remaining undetected. Did you know that mantids, like other insects, usually have five eyes? They have two large compound eyes for detecting movement and three small simple eyes for detecting light. Mantids are known for their impressive camouflage abilities. Some look like dead leaves, while others look like flowers. Praying mantids, as in most insect groups, exhibit what is known as sexual dimorphism where males and females look different in size or coloration. For mantids, females are larger than the males and have shorter wings if she has any. Learn more about why mantids are incredible critters below.
Get Social