They’re weird. Honestly, there is no other way to put it. When you look at all praying mantis species across the globe—and we are talking about over 2,400 distinct types—you realize nature was in a particularly creative, perhaps slightly caffeinated, mood. Most people know them as those green, lanky insects that show up on a screen door and stare you down with an unnerving amount of intelligence. But that’s just the surface. From the pink, petal-mimicking predators in Southeast Asian rainforests to the gritty, bark-colored hunters in the African savannah, these insects are a masterclass in evolutionary specialization.
They watch you. It’s one of the few insects that can actually turn its head 180 degrees to look over its shoulder. That’s because of a specialized joint called the "neck" (prothorax), which gives them a field of vision that’s frankly terrifying if you’re a fly. Or a small bird. Yes, some of the larger species actually hunt hummingbirds.
The Absolute Massive Variety of All Praying Mantis Species
If you think a mantis is just a "praying mantis," you’re missing out on a massive biological spectrum. Taxonomically, they belong to the order Mantodea. While the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) is the one most of us recognize, the diversity out there is staggering. You’ve got the Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus), which doesn't just look like a flower—it looks better than a flower to a hungry bee. Research published in Evolutionary Ecology suggests that these mantises actually attract more pollinators than the actual flowers they sit on. It’s aggressive mimicry at its finest.
Then there’s the Ghost Mantis. It looks like a shriveled, dead leaf. If it sits still on a forest floor, it’s invisible. Total ghost mode. Contrast that with the Dragon Mantis or the Giant Asian Mantis, which relies on sheer size and brute force. Some species are barely half an inch long, while others, like the Hierodula genus, can reach over six inches.
Diversity isn't just about looks, though. It's about how they survive in wildly different biomes. Some live in the desert and run across the sand like beetles because there aren't enough plants to climb. Others have developed flattened bodies to hide in the crevices of tree bark.
Why Their Eyes Are So Creepy
Ever notice that black dot in a mantis’s eye? It’s not a pupil. It’s called a pseudopupil. Since their eyes are compound—made of thousands of tiny lenses called ommatidia—the dark spot is just the place where the light is being absorbed directly into the eye. It gives the illusion that they are constantly making eye contact with you.
They have 3D vision. This is huge. Aside from humans and a few other vertebrates, mantises are the only known invertebrates with stereopsis. A team at Newcastle University actually put tiny 3D glasses on mantises (yes, really) to prove they process depth by tracking movement. This allows them to strike with a speed of about 30 to 50 milliseconds. By the time a fly realizes it’s in danger, it’s already being eaten.
Survival of the Weirdest: Myths and Realities
We have to talk about the cannibalism. Everyone asks about it. "Do the females always eat the males after mating?" Well, no. Not always. In the wild, it happens maybe 15% to 30% of the time depending on the species and how hungry the female is. In a lab setting, where the male can’t escape, the rate goes up. But for all praying mantis species, it’s a calculated risk. If the male provides a "nuptial gift" of his own body, he’s essentially fueling the production of his own offspring. It’s grim, but it’s efficient.
- Myth: They are endangered and it's illegal to kill one.
- Fact: They aren't endangered (mostly). While some local populations are protected, there is no federal law in the US against killing them. Please don't, though—they eat the bugs you actually hate.
- Myth: They only eat insects.
- Fact: Big ones eat frogs, lizards, and snakes.
The Specialized Hunters
Take the Wandering Violin Mantis (Gongylus gongylodes). It looks like a piece of dried grass or a musical instrument. It spends its life hanging upside down. Its thin, spindly legs are useless for walking on the ground, but perfect for mimicking a swaying branch.
Then you have the Boxer Mantis. These guys are tiny but incredibly fast. They move their front legs in a way that looks like they’re shadowboxing. It’s actually a communication method. They use these visual signals to warn off rivals or attract mates without making a sound that might alert a bird.
Keeping Them as Pets: What You Should Know
The hobby of keeping "exotic" mantises has exploded lately. People love them because they are low-maintenance and high-reward. But you can't just stick an Orchid Mantis in a plastic tub and expect it to thrive. These different species have wildly different requirements.
For instance, the Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) needs high heat and moderate humidity. If it gets too cold, its metabolism crashes. If it gets too wet, it gets fungal infections. On the other hand, the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis)—the one you likely see in your backyard—is tough as nails. They can handle a wide range of temperatures and aren't picky eaters.
If you're thinking about diving into the world of all praying mantis species as a keeper, start with a "beginner" species. The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) is basically the perfect starter. They are communal (meaning they usually won't eat each other if fed well), they look incredible, and they live a decent amount of time.
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The Molting Danger
The most stressful part of a mantis's life is the molt. As they grow, they have to crawl out of their old skin. They hang upside down and gravity helps pull them out. If they fall during this process, it's usually fatal. Their new exoskeleton is soft like wet paper. Any deformity at this stage stays with them until the next molt, or permanently if they are adults.
The Ecological Impact of Mantises in Your Garden
Farmers love them, but they can be a double-edged sword. Mantises are generalist predators. They don't care if a bug is a "pest" or a "beneficial." They will eat a devastating grasshopper just as quickly as they’ll snag a honeybee.
In North America, there is a bit of a controversy regarding the Chinese Mantis and the European Mantis. Both are introduced species. They are much larger than the native Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina). There is evidence that these larger, non-native species are outcompeting the smaller natives and, in some cases, eating them. If you’re buying mantis egg cases (oothecae) for your garden, try to find a supplier that sells native species.
How to Find Them in the Wild
You’ve probably walked past dozens of them without knowing. Their camouflage is just that good. To find them, look for "irregularities" in the foliage. Look for a leaf that’s slightly the wrong shade of green, or a twig that has a weirdly triangular "node" on it.
The best time is late summer or early autumn. This is when the nymphs have reached adulthood and are most active, looking for mates. If you find an ootheca—a hard, foamy-looking brown case attached to a stem—leave it there. It contains hundreds of babies that will emerge in the spring to start the cycle all over again.
Actionable Steps for Mantis Enthusiasts
If you want to support all praying mantis species or even start observing them more closely, you don't need a PhD in entomology.
- Stop using broad-spectrum pesticides. If you kill the "bad" bugs, the mantises have nothing to eat. If they eat a bug coated in poison, they die too.
- Plant native shrubs. Mantises need structure to hide and hunt. Densely branched bushes provide the best protection from birds.
- Check your Christmas tree. If you bring a real tree inside, check for oothecae. The warmth of your house will trick the eggs into thinking it's spring, and you will wake up to 200 tiny mantises in your living room.
- Contribute to Citizen Science. Use apps like iNaturalist to upload photos of mantises you find. This helps researchers track the spread of non-native species and the health of native populations.
- Start small if you're keeping one. Buy a simple mesh enclosure rather than a glass tank. Mantises need to be able to grip the ceiling to molt properly, and glass is too slippery.
Understanding the complexity of these insects changes how you look at your backyard. They aren't just bugs; they are highly evolved, specialized hunters that have been refining their craft for millions of years. Whether it's the tiny "ant-mimics" that trick predators or the massive giants that take down vertebrates, the world of mantises is a rabbit hole worth falling down.