Common mantis: habitat, color, photo. What do praying mantises eat? Mantis what comes out of it

The praying mantis is found all over the world, and there are more than 2,000 species of these insects.

Most people are afraid of them because they move strangely and look scary. But the bite of a praying mantis is not terrible for humans. Their mouths are too small to bite a human, but with ease, a female praying mantis can eat the head of her mate.

The reason there are rumors is that they can “bite” because of the hair on their legs. When they walk, they lightly rub against the skin, a person feels it like tiny bites.

These are predatory insects that use their powerful front legs to catch prey, grab and hold small animals.

While smaller species primarily feed on insects and other invertebrates, very large species will occasionally prey on small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards.

origin of name

The name "mantis" comes from the posture they hold their front legs as if they are praying. Most species are green or brown in color so they can blend in with leaves and foliage, which allows them to patiently stalk insects such as flies and grasshoppers.

When the praying mantis is threatened by anything, it stands high, stretches out its front legs and wings like a fan, and opens its mouth wide. This defensive stance is used to appear larger so as to intimidate the opponent.

Moreover, some species have bright colors and patterns on the hind wings and the inner surfaces of the front legs for the same purpose. If pursuit from an intruder persists, the mantis may strike with its front legs, attempt to pinch, or bite.

The strikes are as fast as the blink of an eye, after which he will slowly devour the unfortunate victim slowly with his ultra sharp jaws.

They do not bite people on purpose, do not damage home furnishings, and do not spread diseases. However, touching their spiny forelimbs can feel like a bite.

Praying mantises are beneficial insects. They eat various types of other insects that are harmful to humans.

Is a mantis bite dangerous?

Although this almost never happens, a praying mantis may grab your finger and bite you.

The praying mantis is perhaps one of the most amazing and strange insects on our planet, both in its habits and way of life, some features of which can slightly (or even greatly) shock us people. Yes, we are talking about the famous mating habits of mantises, when the female mantis after the mating process (and sometimes right during the process) eats her unlucky gentleman. But, of course, mantises are not only remarkable for this, and in our article today we will tell you about all aspects of the life of these unusual insects.

Origin of the name praying mantis

The academic name for the praying mantis was given back in 1758 by the great Swedish naturalist Karl Liney, who drew attention to the fact that the pose of a praying mantis in ambush and guarding its prey is very similar to the pose of a man folding his hands in prayer to God. Because of such striking similarity, the scientist gave the insect the Latin name “ Mantis religiosa”, which literally translates as “religious priest”, the name “mantis” itself came into our language.

Although it is not called this way everywhere, our hero also has other, not so blissful names, for example, in Spain he is called Caballito del Diablo - the devil's horse or simply - muerte - death. Such creepy names are obviously associated with the equally creepy habits of praying mantises.

What a praying mantis looks like: structure and characteristics

The structure of the praying mantis is characterized by an elongated body, which distinguishes it from other arthropod insects.

The praying mantis is perhaps the only living creature that can easily turn its triangular-shaped head a full 360 degrees. Thanks to such a useful skill, he can see an enemy approaching from behind. He also has only one ear, but despite this, he has excellent hearing.

The eyes of the praying mantis have a complex faceted structure, located on the sides of the head, but in addition to them, our hero has three more simple eyes above the base of the antennae.

The antennae of mantises are comb-like, feathery or filamentous, depending on the species of the insect.

Mantises, almost all of their species, have well-developed wings, but mainly only males can fly; females, due to their more weight and size, it is more difficult to fly than males. The wings of praying mantises consist of two pairs: front and rear, the front ones serve as a kind of elytra that protect the hind wings. Also, praying mantis wings usually have bright colors, and sometimes they even have peculiar patterns. But among the many varieties of mantises, there is a kind of earthen mantis (Latin name Geomantis larvoides), which has no wings at all.

Mantises have well-developed forelimbs, which have a rather complex structure - each of them consists of many parts: trochanters, femurs, tibiae and tarsi. The bottom of the thigh has large sharp spines arranged in three rows. There are also spines (though smaller ones) on the mantis’s shin, which is decorated with a sharp, needle-like hook at the end. See the picture for an indicative structure of a praying mantis's foot.

Mantises hold their prey just between the thigh and the lower leg until their meal is over.

The blood circulation of praying mantises is primitive, but there is a reason for this - an unusual respiratory system. mantis is supplied complex system trachea connected to dichals (stigmas) on the abdomen in the middle and posterior part of the body. The trachea contains air sacs that enhance ventilation throughout the respiratory system.

Sizes of praying mantises

We have already mentioned above that female praying mantises are much larger than males, oddly enough, this is where their main sexual difference manifests itself.

A species of praying mantis, called Ischnomantis gigas in Latin and living in Africa, can reach 17 cm in length; perhaps this representative of the praying mantis kingdom is a real record holder in size.

Ischnomantis gigas - the most big mantis in the world.

It is slightly inferior to Heterochaeta orientalis or Heterochaeta eastern, it reaches 16 cm in length. Ordinary mantises are much smaller in size, on average no more than 0.5-1.5 cm in length.

Mantis color

Like many other insects, mantises have excellent camouflage abilities, a biological method of protection from predators, which is why their colors, depending on the environment, are green, yellow and brown. Green mantises live on green leaves, while brown ones are inseparable from the bark of trees.

What does a praying mantis eat?

It's no secret that our hero is a notorious predator who loves to eat more small insects, never afraid to attack prey larger than even himself. They eat flies, wasps, bumblebees, beetles, etc. Large representatives of the praying mantis family (see above) can even attack small rodents, birds and small amphibians: frogs,.

Mantises usually attack from an ambush, unexpectedly grab the prey with their front paws and do not let go until they have completely eaten it. Strong jaws allow these gluttons to eat even a relatively large victim.

Enemies of Mantises

Although mantises are excellent predators and hunters, they themselves can also become prey for snakes, some birds or bats. But the main enemies of mantises, perhaps, are their own relatives - other mantises. Fights to the death between two rival mantises are not uncommon. The fights themselves, both between praying mantises and with other insects, are very spectacular; first of all, the praying mantis seeks to scare its opponent, for this it takes a special frightening pose - it throws its front paws forward and lifts its belly up. All this may be accompanied by corresponding threatening sounds. Such a demonstration of strength is by no means feigned; mantises are desperately brave and bravely rush even at a much larger opponent. Thanks to such courage and bravery, mantises often emerge victorious from such battles.

Where does the praying mantis live?

Almost everywhere, since their habitat is very wide: Central and Southern Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia. They are not found only in northern regions, since mantises are not very accustomed to cold. But they are perfectly suited, for example, to the hot and humid climate of tropical Africa and South America. Praying mantises thrive in tropical forests, steppe regions, and rocky deserts.

They rarely move from place to place, preferring their usual habitat to unknown distant places, the only reason What can motivate them to travel is the lack of food supply.

Types of mantises: photos and names

Scientists have counted about 2000 various types mantises, unfortunately, we will not be able to list them all in our article, but we will describe, in our opinion, the most interesting representatives.

The common praying mantis lives in most countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The common praying mantis is a very large representative of the praying mantis kingdom, reaching up to 7 cm (female) and 6 cm (male). As a rule, they are green or brown in color, the wings are well developed, at least, flying from branch to branch is not a problem for the common mantis. The abdomen is ovoid. This type of mantis can be distinguished by a black spot, which is located on the coxae of the front pair of legs on the inside.

Obviously, the homeland and main habitat of this type of mantis is China. The Chinese mantis is quite large, females reach up to 15 cm in length, but the size of males is much more modest. Have green and brown colors. A characteristic feature of Chinese mantises is their night look life, while their other relatives are still sleeping at night. Also, young individuals of Chinese mantises do not have wings, which grow only after several molts, at which time they acquire the ability to fly.

The praying mantis Creobroter meleagris lives in southwest Asia: India, Vietnam, Cambodia and several other countries. Usually reach 5 cm in length. The colors are white and cream. You can recognize them by the light brown stripes that run along the entire body and head. Also on the wings they have one small and big spot white or cream color.

The mantis Creobroter gemmatus especially loves humid forests south india, Vietnam and other Asian countries. This species is small, females grow to only 40 mm, males up to 38 mm. The body is more elongated than that of other relatives. And for additional protection, the Indian praying mantis has special spikes of different heights on its hips. Painted in cream colors. Representatives of this species are excellent flyers, both males and females, due to their light weight, besides, both pairs of wings are well developed. Interestingly, on the front wings they have a spot similar to an eye with two pupils, which scares away predators. Flower mantises live, as their names suggest, in plant flowers, where they guard their prey.

The same mantis Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii lives in the countries of southern and eastern Africa. In terms of lifestyle and size, it is very similar to the Indian flower mantis. But what is especially interesting is its coloring - it is truly artistic; on the upper pair of wings there is an interesting pattern reminiscent of a spiral or even an eye. The abdomen of this species has additional spines, which give it its name.

The orchid mantis is, in our opinion, the most beautiful representative of the mantis world. It also got its name for a reason, namely for external resemblance with beautiful orchids, on which he actually hides in ambush, waiting for his next victim. Female orchid mantises are exactly twice as large as males: 80 mm versus 40. And orchid mantises, even among other mantises, are distinguished by amazing courage; representatives of this species are not afraid to attack even insects twice their size.

The oriental heterochaete, or spiny-eyed mantis, is one of the largest mantises in the world (the female reaches 15 cm in length) and lives throughout most of Africa. These mantises live in the branches of bushes; fortunately, their appearance also resembles twigs.

Reproduction of praying mantises

And here we move on to the most interesting part, namely the reproduction of mantises, which, as a rule, has a sad and tragic end for the males. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, but start in order. With the onset of the mating season (usually in the fall), male praying mantises, using their organs of charm, begin searching for females ready to mate. Having found one, he performs a special “mating dance” in front of her, which elevates him to the rank of sexual partner. Then the mating process itself begins, during which the female praying mantis has the bad habit of biting off her male’s head and then completely eating him. Some scientists believe that this behavior, which is more than creepy in our opinion, also has its own biological reasons - having eaten her “groom”, the female in this simple way replenishes the reserves of nutritious protein substances necessary for future offspring.

Although it also happens that the male manages to get away from his “beloved” in time, thereby avoiding the sad fate of food.

After some time, the fertilized female lays eggs, simultaneously enveloping them with a special sticky secretion, which is secreted by their special glands. This secretion serves as a kind of protective capsule for the eggs of future mantises and is called an ooteca. The fertility of a female depends on its species; usually a female is capable of laying from 10 to 400 eggs at a time.

Praying mantis larvae stay in the eggs from three weeks to six months, after which they crawl out of the eggs. Further, their development proceeds in quite fast pace and after about 4-8 molts the larva degenerates into an adult mantis.

Keeping praying mantises at home

Terrarium

It would be a very exotic and unusual act to get yourself a pet praying mantis, wouldn’t it? However, there are people who have such “pets” and if you also want to join them, then the first thing you will have to take care of is the terrarium. Suitable for a relatively small glass or plastic terrarium with a mesh lid, its dimensions should be at least three times the size of the mantis itself. Inside it would be nice to place twigs or small plants on which the praying mantis will climb like trees.

Temperature

Praying mantises are heat-loving insects, so the optimal temperature for them will be from +23 to +30 C. You can use special heaters for terrariums.

Humidity

Also, do not forget about humidity, which is also important for these insects. The optimal humidity for praying mantises is 40-60%, and to maintain it, you can place a small container of water inside the terrarium.

What to feed praying mantises at home

Live food. Grasshoppers, cockroaches, flies are perfect. Some species of praying mantises will not mind eating ants. And with all this, they need to be fed regularly, so keeping such “pets” can be somewhat troublesome. But there is no need to water the praying mantises, since necessary for the body They get liquid from food.

• One of the styles of Chinese martial arts wushu is named after the praying mantis; according to legend, this style was invented by a Chinese peasant watching mantises hunt.
• At one time, in the Soviet Union they wanted to industrially use praying mantises as biological protection against pests of agricultural plants. True, this idea had to be abandoned, since the praying mantises also ate beneficial insects, including bees.
• Since ancient times, praying mantises have been frequent heroes of various myths and legends among African and Asian peoples; for example, in China they personified stubbornness and greed, and the ancient Greeks attributed to them the ability to predict the coming of spring.

The praying mantis is an insect from another planet, video

And in conclusion, we bring to your attention an interesting popular science film about praying mantises.

Type: Arthropods

Class: Insects

Squad: Cockroaches

Suborder: Praying Mantis

Family: Real praying mantises

Subfamily: Mantinae

Tribe: Mantini

Genus: Praying Mantises

View: Common praying mantis (Mantisreligiosa)

Description of the species

The scientific name of the species in Latin is Mantisreligiosa. The word mantis is translated “priest”, “prophet”, religiosa - “religious”. Carl Linnaeus did not choose the name by chance; when waiting for prey, the common mantis or the religious mantis folds its shins into the groove of its thighs. His pose resembles a man frozen in prayer.

The common praying mantis (Mantisreligiosa) belongs to the order Praying Mantis, which includes 2,800 species. The insect's body is narrow and elongated. Males grow up to 43-52 mm, females are much larger - 50-75 mm. An anatomical feature of mantises is the structure of the forelimbs. Grasping legs with spiny elongated femurs and tibiae are designed for holding prey. The thigh and lower leg in a ligament function on the principle of scissors. On the inside of the coxae of the forelimbs there is a dark spot with a white mark in the middle.

Despite the fact that females are larger than males, males have longer antennae and larger eyes.

The head is triangular, mobile, the insect is able to look back. On the sides there are large, convex compound eyes. In European praying mantises they have a black pupil. On the forehead there are long filamentous antennae and three simple ocelli. Oral apparatus gnawing type directed downwards. The common mantis has two pairs of well-developed wings. Light males and young females are capable of flying over considerable distances.

The fore wings are narrow and leathery, they replace the elytra. The hind wings are wide, and when at rest they are folded on the back like a fan. The pronotum expands in the upper part, but never covers the head. The abdomen is elongated, soft, consists of 10 segments. On the last segment there are appendages - cerci. There are 10 pairs of spiracles on the sides of the body.

Color and camouflage

The color type of the common mantis is protective. Body color can be green (in 80% of cases), yellow, light or dark brown. Camouflage coloring allows you to blend in with the environment. When the insect is motionless, it completely mimics foliage or a twig. Camouflage serves two functions: it allows you to hunt from ambush and hide from enemies.

Some praying mantises have stunningly complex and effective camouflage patterns that rival any other animal. Some can blend in so well with trees and leaves that they are almost impossible to notice. They even sway, as if leaves and twigs were being shaken by a light breeze. Some of the most fantastic camouflages are those of the violin mantis from India and the orchid mantis from Malaysia. They are lilac-violet or hot pink with splashes of just the right shade of green and strategically placed dark areas, and can bend their abdomen to create an exact replica of part of the flower. Even experts can mistake them for a flower.

When attacked by an enemy, the mantis opens its wings to increase in size. It sways from side to side and raises its front legs and the edge of its abdomen threateningly. All actions are aimed at scaring away the aggressor. If the enemy is too large, the mantis flies away.

Spreading

Widely distributed in the southern regions of Europe, reaching north to 54° north latitude; Front and Central Asia, Kazakhstan, North Africa, in the south of the African continent it reaches the Transvaal and the Cape Land (South Africa). Thanks to man, it went far beyond its range, as it was brought by trading ships to North America and Australia. In Russia, distributed in the European part (south of 50 - 54° N), in the Caucasus, in the steppe zone southern Urals, in the south of Siberia and the Far East.

Types of praying mantises

There are more than 2,000 species of praying mantises.

Below is a description of several varieties:

• Common praying mantis (lat. Mantis religiosa) lives in most countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. Its distribution area includes Portugal and Spain, Italy and France, Turkey, Germany, Austria and Poland, as well as numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea. This species is found in Sudan and Egypt, in Israel and Iran, as well as in Russia, from the southern regions to the Primorsky Territory. Introduced populations have been recorded in Australia and North America. Distinctive feature This species is a black spot, which is located on both coxae of the front pair of legs on the inside. Often a light mark is visible in the center of such a spot.

• Chinese mantis (Chinese bowing mantis) (lat. Tenodera aridifolia, Tenodera sinensis) is an endemic species that is naturally distributed throughout China. Adult female praying mantises reach 15 cm in length; males are much more modest in size. The color of these insects does not depend on gender and can be green or brown. Nymphs and juveniles lack wings. Chinese mantises acquire the ability to fly only after several molts.

• Praying mantis Creobroter meleagris widespread in Bhutan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan and other countries in the South Asian region. Adults can reach 5 centimeters in length. The main body color of the praying mantis is cream or white. Light brown stripes of varying widths run throughout the body, head and paws. The elytra and pronotum are colored olive-green.

• Praying mantis Creobroter gemmatus, which is also called Indian flower mantis, is a typical inhabitant of the humid forests of India, Vietnam and other countries of South Asia. Mature males of this species of mantis reach a length of 38 mm, females are larger and grow up to 40 mm. The body of the insect is elongated, and the width of the pronotum is noticeably less than its length. There are several spikes of different heights on the hips. The body is colored cream with brown or greenish spots.

• Praying mantis Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii lives in areas with hot and humid climate. Other unofficial names for this insect are spiky or spiny flower mantis. This species lives in the countries of southern and eastern Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, as well as Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion. The size of adults is quite modest. The length of females does not exceed 40 mm, and males – 30 mm. The coloring of these mantises is heterogeneous - it combines white, cream, pinkish, yellow and green tones.

• Orchid mantis (lat. Hymenopus coronatus) distributed in the tropical forests of India, Malaysia and Indonesia. This insect is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the order. It received its name for its external resemblance to orchid flowers, on which it hides in anticipation of its prey. A sexually mature female praying mantis has quite impressive dimensions and grows up to 80 mm in length. The size of males is much more modest and does not exceed 40 mm. Distinctive feature This species has wide forelimbs, a small head and thread-like antennae.

• Praying Mantis Idolomantisdiabolica, which is also called Damn flower or Devil's flower lives in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and other countries East Africa, where it lives on the branches of bushes and trees. Adult mantises of this species are quite large in size. Females can reach a length of 14 cm with a wingspan of about 16 cm. Male mantises are slightly smaller in size than females and rarely exceed 11 cm in length. The color of these insects can vary from various shades of green to light brown. The spines located on the thighs of the front legs have different lengths. Three shorter ones are visible between the long spines.

• Eastern heterochaeta (lat. Heterochaeta orientalis), which also has an unofficial name spike-eyed mantis, lives in most African countries. The female mantis reaches 15 cm in length. Males are smaller in size and grow up to 12 cm. Due to the fact that these insects live in the branches of bushes, their appearance has unusual features that make them resemble twigs or twigs. In addition, these African mantises have spines located not only on the thighs and shins of the forelimbs, but also along the upper edges of the head, which is shaped like a triangle. This gives the impression that the insect's eyes are wrapped around these spines.

• Praying mantis Empusa pennata- a species from the genus Empusa, which is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Africa, in most Asian countries, as well as in Portugal, Spain and Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. A distinctive feature of the praying mantis is a peculiar high growth on its head, resembling a kind of crown in shape. Males have comb-type antennae, and the head is crowned with additional spines that look like feathers. The color of the praying mantis depends on the environment and can change. These insects are characterized by green, yellow or pink colors, as well as various shades of brown.

• Phyllocrania praying mantisparadoxa lives in rather arid regions of Africa, located south of the Sahara Desert, as well as on the island of Madagascar, where it lives in the branches of bushes and trees. Thanks to its peculiar body shape, reminiscent of a plant leaf, it can easily hide from natural enemies and successfully hunt small insects. This camouflage is provided by special outgrowths on the body and head of the mantis.

• Mantis Metallyticussplendidus lives in India, Malaysia, Sumatra and other countries South-East Asia. Hunts for prey in the branches of trees or shrubs, as well as under tree bark. Mature male mantises can reach a length of about 2 cm. Females are slightly larger and grow up to 3 cm in length. The body of these insects is slightly flattened from the back to the abdomen.

• Praying Mantis Amelesspallanziania widespread in Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, San Marino, and Greece. The habitat of this species also includes Cyprus, Malta and other countries Southern Europe and North Africa. The size of these insects is quite modest, with the length of males rarely exceeding 1 cm, and females can reach a length of 3 cm. You can also distinguish a male from a female by the presence of wings.

• Mantis Blepharopsismendica, which also has an unofficial name thistle mantis, found in Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and other countries in North Africa and southwestern Asia. These insects live in desert as well as mountainous areas. Males are slightly smaller in size than females, which can reach a length of 5.2-6.1 cm. In addition, the antennae of males have a comb structure.

• Praying mantis Rhombodera basalis lives in the tropical zone of Malaysia, Thailand and India. Adult females can grow up to 8-9 cm in length, males are slightly smaller. Characteristic feature The mantis is a slightly enlarged pronotum, resembling a diamond shape. The body and wing covers of the insect are colored turquoise-green with a blue tint.

• Sarawak mantis / Hestiasula sarawaka. The Saravar mantis, which lives on the island of Kalimantan, in addition to its frightening defensive pose, makes specific sounds. In this mantis, all parts of the body visible from above when at rest are gray or brown in color. When irritated, the insect spreads its front legs and moves both pairs of wings to the side.

• Malaysian leaf-shaped mantis (lat. Deroplatys dessicata) widespread both in the tropical forests of Malaysia or Indonesia, and in the humid thickets of Sumatra and Borneo. Female Malaysian leaf-shaped mantises are much larger in size than males. Their length can reach 15 cm, while males grow to a maximum of 6 cm. This species has good camouflage abilities due to the special shape of the head and body, which give it a resemblance to withered foliage.

• Mantis Deroplatys lobata lives in wet forests Malaysia, as well as in tropical thickets on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Prefers to hunt in the foliage of trees or small shrubs, as well as in their upturned roots. In appearance, these insects strongly resemble withered leaves, which serves them not only as an excellent camouflage that protects them from enemies, but also helps them hide and wait for prey.

• Praying mantis Aethalochroa insignis lives in India. This is a very large insect, 15-20 cm long, including antennae. The praying mantis' excellent camouflage makes it look like a dry blade of grass.

Lifestyle

The praying mantis lives and hunts like a typical ambush hunter. The predator freezes until the prey is within reach. It grabs prey with its front legs and starts eating from the head. Males are careful in choosing hunting objects; they attack flies, locusts and other small insects. Large females often attack victims almost equal in size to them. Aggressive individuals attack lizards, birds, and frogs. They jump on the reptile's back and bite its head. The fight continues for several minutes, in the process the hunter can become the victim. If the outcome is successful, the prey is eaten within 2-3 hours. The female remains well fed for up to 4-5 days.

You can meet Mantisreligiosa in the forest, steppe herbs, and meadows. Insects do not even avoid large cities, where they have adapted to live in grass, parks and gardens. Favorite places habitat of the common mantis tall trees and bush. Insects prefer sedentary image life. They do not leave their usual territory, they move between tiers. For movement, four limbs are used, less often wings.

Given enough food, they spend their entire lives on one plant. Insects have excellent vision; they detect the slightest movement in the environment. Camouflage coloring allows you to get closer to your prey unnoticed. Hunting takes place during the daytime. All soft tissues of the prey are eaten, leaving chitinous legs and wings. How long a common mantis lives depends on the amount of food and gender. The age of females is longer; on average, representatives of the species are natural conditions live 2-3 months. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.

Nutrition

Praying mantises are predatory insects. They catch their victims with strong front legs covered with sharp spines. The praying mantis, waiting for prey with its front legs “humbly” folded, slightly resembles a person praying - hence the name of the insects. Female praying mantises are larger, more voracious and more aggressive than males. Males feed mainly on small insects, and huge females often attack even such relatively large animals as lizards, frogs and birds.

Reproduction

People have repeatedly observed how they kill and eat their partners during or after mating. In fact, in most cases, insect mating occurs normally. And if the female eats the male, she does it “out of forgetfulness,” mistaking him for an opportune victim. The fact is that when a female develops eggs, her body requires additional amounts of protein and at this time she becomes especially voracious.

Before mating, the male praying mantis performs an intricate dance in front of the female and sends her an odorous signal, releasing special substances into the air. This helps him somehow protect his life: otherwise the female would probably take him for a tasty prey.

After mating, the female praying mantis lays several dozen eggs. But before that, she builds special “bags” for them from foamy protein material – ootheca. Foamy liquid is produced by special glands in the abdomen of the insect. First, the female attaches a ball of foam to a tree branch. While the foam is wet and soft, it creates several small chambers (recesses) in it and lays one egg in each chamber. After some time, the foam hardens in air and turns into durable material, resembling polystyrene. Ootecae protect eggs from unfavorable external influences: they stand negative temperature and are not destroyed by pesticides.

The mantis larvae (nymphs) hatching from the eggs are selected from the ootheca through a single hole at its apex. Praying mantis larvae are very similar to adult insects, but lack wings. The nymphs of some mantises live in nests and disguise themselves as ants.

Enemies of Mantises

When attacked by an enemy (snake, bird, bat or chameleon) or when meeting with a fellow rival, the mantises try to scare the enemy. They take a rather intimidating pose, spreading their wings like a fan, putting their front grasping legs forward and lifting the end of their abdomen up. This pose can be accompanied by threatening sounds. For example, the Sarawak mantis (lat. Hestiasula sarawaka) rustles its wings loudly and makes a clicking noise created by the contact of the upper part of the forelimb with the thigh. If the enemy turns out to be much stronger, the praying mantis prefers to retreat and flies away, however, seeing its advantage, it bravely confronts the enemy and often turns out to be the winner in such a fight.

Mantis and man

For example, it is widely believed that praying mantises only kill “harmful” insects, but this is not true. Praying mantises are equally eager to feast on, for example, honey bees and garden pests.

There are about 1,800 species of praying mantises. Two species are widespread in the United States - the introduced Chinese mantis, 8–13 cm long, and the native Carolina mantis, reaching 5 cm in length. Scientists disagree on how to classify the insect family Mantidae. Some group them with other insects in a squad Dictyoptera. Others place them in a separate detachment - Mantodea.

Evolutionists claim that praying mantises evolved from the same ancestor as cockroaches, but this is based on belief rather than observable and verifiable evidence.

Once the obligatory tribute to evolution has been paid, most scientists marvel at the amazing design of the praying mantis. For example, in reference to the lightning speed and strong muscles of the praying mantis's front legs, the researchers use words such as "superbly equipped," "sophisticated," and that "their front legs are amazingly designed."

In the USA, they are used to a limited extent in gardens for growing organic fruits. In general, the condition of this group of insects is good. Species such as spotted iris, striped empusa and short-winged bolivaria are included in the regional Red Books.

Keeping praying mantises at home

Terrarium

It would be a very exotic and unusual act to get yourself a pet praying mantis, wouldn’t it? However, there are people who have such “pets” and if you also want to join them, then the first thing you will have to take care of is the terrarium. A relatively small glass or plastic terrarium with a mesh lid is suitable; its dimensions should be at least three times the size of the mantis itself. Inside it would be nice to place twigs or small plants on which the praying mantis will climb like trees.

Temperature

Praying mantises are heat-loving insects, so the optimal temperature for them will be from +23 to +30 C. You can use special heaters for terrariums.

Humidity

Also, do not forget about humidity, which is also important for these insects. The optimal humidity for praying mantises is 40-60%, and to maintain it, you can place a small container of water inside the terrarium.

What to feed praying mantises at home?

Live food. Crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and flies are perfect. Some species of praying mantises will not mind eating ants. And with all this, they need to be fed regularly, so keeping such “pets” can be somewhat troublesome. But you don’t need to give praying mantises water, since they get the liquid the body needs from food.

There is a belief among people that the saliva of the praying mantis insect can poison a mule. Therefore, it is sometimes called the “mule killer.” Other nicknames are “soothsayer”, “prophet”.

All this arose due to an unusual appearance and the behavior of this amazing insect.

Who is the praying mantis

The praying mantis is a large predatory insect

The scientific name of the insect is the common mantis. The famous animal researcher Carl Linnaeus mentions it as Mantis religiosa. From Greek, the first part is translated as “prophet”, and the second, from Latin – “religious”.

The insect is quite large, up to 5–7 cm, with an elongated, narrow body and long limbs. The wings are large and well developed, but more often they simply run on the ground than fly.

The abdomen is shaped like an egg. Body color varies. The main color is green, but it can also have a yellow tint, gray or brown. Thanks to this, it can be difficult to notice among the grass or branches.

The praying mantis is the closest relative of cockroaches, but unlike them, it is a predatory insect. It grabs prey with its front paws and eats it. When the praying mantis sits motionless, it raises and folds these legs as if praying. This is where all his nicknames came from.

Master Hunter

But this position is not at all intended for prayer. At this time he is preparing for the hunt. This is such a bloodthirsty creature that it is ready, in this outwardly submissive pose, to grab any insect running nearby.

This one constant readiness to attack and forces the predator to hold its front legs like a trap. On their inner part there are sharp serrations that tenaciously hold prey.

This is the only insect that can turn its head back. A fly, wasp, mosquito or butterfly gapes, and he’s right there. Lightning quickly grabs them into its trap paws and then slowly eats them.

Females are not afraid to grab prey much larger than themselves - frogs, lizards and even rodents!

Features of reproduction

In general, females are very aggressive, especially in mating season. They even attack each other. The loser becomes food for the winner.

At first, the male is of interest to her only as prey. But driven by instinct, he tries in every possible way to attract her attention. To do this, the mantis performs a kind of dance in front of the female, which then ends in death for him.

The great need for protein for the formation of eggs forces the female to eat even the male. This sometimes happens right during mating - she bites off her partner’s head. But more often he does this afterwards, eating it whole.

The female lays eggs in special capsules of a protein solidified substance called ootheca. From 10 to 400 eggs lie in rows in it. Ootheca is very durable and can withstand even frosts. In some areas, the eggs remain there all winter.

Praying mantises: benefits and harms

Praying mantises provide great assistance to humans by destroying large numbers of agricultural pests. In the USA and Asian countries they are kept at home to control flies. Mantis catchers often collect oothecae and sell them to farmers as a biological weapon against harmful insects. The praying mantises living in the gardens will not allow uninvited guests to breed.

The praying mantis has a very gentle appearance. He sits for a long time in a humble position, with his paws folded on his chest. In fact, under the guise of a “righteous man” hides a real predator, capable of dining even on a relative

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Common praying mantis Mantis religiosa

Type- arthropods
Class- insects
Squad- praying mantises (sometimes included in the order of cockroaches)
Family- real praying mantises
Genus- praying mantis

Large predatory insect: male body length 42-52 mm, female - 48-75 mm. The front pair of legs are hunting, the two rear pairs are walking. The wings are well developed. The abdomen is massive, ovoid. An adult insect lives 55-60 days. Males usually die before females. Praying mantises, especially their larvae, are beneficial insects because they destroy pests, especially on fruit trees and berry bushes. It lives in Europe (south of the 54th parallel), in the steppes and deserts of Asia to the Far East, in Africa - right up to the southern tip. Introduced to Australia and North America, where it successfully took root. IN last years V Eastern Europe spreading to the north.

Thanks to its pious appearance, the insect received the name “mantis” in Russian, and the name in scientific Latin was Mantis religiosa (literally “religious prophet”). His ancestors acquired the habit of taking a prayerful pose at the end of the Mesozoic, and it was not dictated by spiritual aspirations, but by the method of obtaining food that they chose for themselves. This is the starting stance for attacking prey. The French scientist Jean Henri Farbe in his book “The Manners of Insects” spoke about the praying mantis: “There is nothing in its appearance that would inspire fear. But what a cruel disposition such a sanctimonious appearance hides. This is the tiger of the grassy jungle, the threat of peaceful six-legged creatures. Wringing his tenacious paws in feigned supplication, he awaits his next victim.”

For hours, or even days, the praying mantis sits at its combat post (usually on a branch of a bush or the stem of a herbaceous plant), maintaining amazing immobility. It is almost impossible to notice it - it blends into the background so well. Coloring common mantises It can be different - green, yellow or brown. This is not a sign of a subspecies, but a purely individual feature, like the color of a person’s skin. But at the same time, mantises take their color into account, preferring to sit where it matches the background and is not conspicuous: green on plants, yellow and brown on rags. If some careless animal approaches a hidden mantis, a sharp lunge follows - the folded forelimbs instantly straighten and the victim finds himself in a real trap formed by a paw and shin with sharp spikes. The deadly "arms" fold again, bringing the stunned and securely restrained victim to the mouth. And powerful jaws come into play.

It is clear that with this method of hunting, the predator needs to very accurately determine distances and angles, because he only has one attempt. This ability is ensured by the structure of the praying mantis’s head, on which the eyes stand out first of all - large, convex, widely spaced (the farther they are from each other, the easier it is to estimate the distance to the target). Between them, like dragonflies, there are three simple eyes.

But if you just sit and wait for the animal to come running to the hunter, you might end up hungry. Therefore, the praying mantis hunts mainly small prey. If a larger creature comes into its field of vision, the predator begins to creep up on it. He moves slowly and doesn’t even hide much, although, if the situation allows, he tries to come in from behind. If the prey takes off or jumps, its happiness; the mantis freezes until the next edible object appears. But if he manages to approach within arm’s length, a lightning-fast throw follows and spikes are pierced into the victim’s body.

However, an accurate throw of the “hands” sometimes does not end, but begins the fight. The praying mantis, as a rule, attacks not only any insects (including those that are larger than itself or are well protected, such as bees), but also small vertebrates - reptiles, birds and even mice. It is impossible to kill such prey or at least suppress its resistance with one blow. Fights can last for many minutes, and an overly enthusiastic hunter risks turning into prey himself. But this does not bother the praying mantises.

True, the mantis hunts such large game only if it is very hungry. A well-fed insect does not pay attention to it, and if it itself approaches, then the mantis takes a defensive pose: it rises on four walking legs, opens its wings (usually folded on its back) and, swinging, throws its hunting limbs towards the potential enemy, but not exciting, but repulsive movement, trying to expose the thorns towards the enemy. A threatening pose and spiny “arms” are the praying mantis’s only defense if it fails to remain unnoticed. This is often enough to scare off a comparable-sized or inexperienced predator (primarily fledglings of small birds - the main insect killers in the second half of summer), but if someone larger becomes interested in the mantis, he is finished. Despite its well-developed legs and wings, the praying mantis runs rather slowly and flies poorly. A heavy, slow-flying, unmaneuverable insect visible from afar is an ideal prey for birds. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, they do not fly during daylight hours, and females prefer not to fly on the wing at all.

Mantises are also not very prone to walking. But towards the end of summer, the males change their habits: they begin to wander around. Confronting each other, they get into a fight, and the loser of this knightly duel has every chance of not only dying, but also becoming food for the winner.

But, of course, in these wanderings, male praying mantises are not looking for tournament glory, but for the love of beautiful ladies. However, start with them romantic relationship not easy: the female, being on average much larger and stronger than the male, can easily devour a potential suitor, especially if she is not yet ready to mate or has not eaten enough for a long time. Therefore, the male, having noticed a possible spouse, begins to sneak up on her much more carefully than on the most sensitive and dangerous prey. His movement is invisible to the eye, like the movement of a clock hand; he doesn’t seem to move at all, but gradually gets closer to the female, trying to come from behind. If the female turns in his direction, he freezes in place for a long time, only swaying a little (perhaps these movements are a signal switching the female’s behavior from a “hunting” program to a “love” one). A kind of courtship can last 5-6 hours - on a pilgrimage date, it is better for the gentleman to be an hour late than to rush a minute. But even successful mating does not guarantee the male’s safety: the six-legged Cleopatra can finish off her lover immediately upon completion of the act. Nevertheless, in about half of the cases, the males - either more courteous, or simply luckier than their counterparts - leave alive and can after some time play the deadly game again with another female. There is no point in taking care of themselves: in a few days a self-destruction program will begin to work in their bodies.

The fertilized female soon selects a suitable stalk or stone, sits comfortably and begins laying eggs. Along with the eggs, a sticky secretion is released from its abdomen, which immediately hardens in the air. As a result, a flattened drop remains at the site of the masonry, similar to a drip of construction foam, 2-2.5 cm in size - ootheca. Inside it there are 100-300 eggs.

After laying eggs, the female seems to lose interest in life and becomes lethargic. Its integuments become dull and dark spots appear on them. Before the end of October, all adult mantises - both females and surviving males - die. The mechanism of this programmed death is not fully understood, but it is known that the synthesis of a number of amino acids stops in the insect’s body. In captivity, adding these amino acids to the drinker, as well as a number of vitamins, can extend the life of the insect by two months, that is, twice. One way or another, by winter, all that remains of the praying mantises are oothecae, in which... nothing happens. To start the development of the embryo, the egg must endure long-term cooling, staying at least a month at a temperature from +3 ° C to -18 ° C (mantis eggs from African populations of the same species do not need cooling).

Apparently, the northern border of the “country of praying mantises” is determined not by winter, but by summer temperatures. Today, following global climate change, mantises are moving north. In recent years, the praying mantis has become common in Bryansk region(where the photographs for this article were taken). And isolated finds of mantises were reported several years ago from the Ryazan and Moscow regions. Actually, the signal for the beginning of development is not cold, but the return of heat. Having warmed up in the spring sun, the embryos quickly develop, and at the end of April - May the larvae crawl out of the ooteca one after another. Their entire body is covered with spines directed backwards, and long threads stretch behind each one. Inside the tight “shell” the larva cannot use its legs and simply wriggles with its whole body, and the spines turn this movement into a forward movement. When the larva crawls away from the exit hole, the threads, like the pilot cord of a parachute, literally pull off the baby skin from it. Now the larva looks like a revived diagram of the structure of a praying mantis: the limbs and body parts are located in the same way, but there are no wings yet.

The larva is similar to an adult insect not only in structure, but also in its way of life: it hunts in the same way, grabbing prey with its hunting legs, but at the same time it is much more mobile than adults. The size of favorite game grows with the hunter: from thrips - tiny inhabitants of flowers - to aphids, fruit flies, and then flies.

Weeks go by weeks, with each molt the larva becomes larger and its abdomen more massive. After the fifth molt, she gains wings and reproductive organs. And an adult mantis appears in front of us.