Mantis insect. Mantis lifestyle and habitat

Arthropod insects from the order Praying Mantises got their Russian name due to the fact that their forelimbs are similar to human arms, bent in the hands.

While in ambush, they take a wait-and-see attitude. In the photo of praying mantises you can see this behavioral feature. This posture is associated with the position of the body of a person reading a prayer.

Description of insects

These arthropod insects– owners of an elongated body with a triangular-shaped head that rotates around its axis. Mantises notice enemies ready to attack them from behind.

Look what a praying mantis looks like, the photo demonstrates complex structure bulging eyes. They are located on the sides of the head; the insect also has 3 additional eyes.

Many segments form antennae. Oral apparatus the gnawing type is directed downwards.

A special feature is the pronotum, which expands upward. The body consists of 10 segments. On the latter there is a pair of appendages that serve as olfactory organs.

Most varieties of mantises have wings and can fly. The front pair of wings, narrower than the rear, are used as elytra.

The wider pair of wings at the rear may be brightly colored and even patterned. In addition, there are praying mantises without wings, similar to larvae.

Insects have well-developed forelimbs. The tarsi have 5 segments and 2 large claws. In addition to the tarsus, the limb includes the tibia, coxa, femur, and trochanter. The femur and tibia have spines.

During the eating process, the mantis holds the victim between the lower leg and thigh. The other legs of the insect have a typical structure for arthropods. The praying mantis breathes through the tracheal system.

The female praying mantis is larger in size than the male.

There are species that reach 16-17 cm in length, but there are also varieties no more than 5 mm.

The coloring of the body has a camouflage character. The color literally blends with the environment.

Some representatives of praying mantises resemble leaves, sticks or flowers, others are colored to resemble tree bark, lichens or ashes that are carried by the wind after a fire.

Insects can have different colors: green, brownish, yellow and even contrasting. The color of the same individual may change after molting.

Enemies of arthropod insects

Praying mantises can become prey for snakes, chameleons, bats and birds. Having encountered an enemy, the insect tries to scare the attacker.

The praying mantis adopts a terrifying pose and makes terrifying sounds. But when the enemy turns out to be stronger, he flies away.

How long does a praying mantis live?

Each species has its own life expectancy. It can vary from 2 to 11 months.

Natural habitat

Praying mantises are found in most Asian and European countries in the south and central parts. Insects can be found in Africa, South and North America, as well as in Australia.

Praying mantises thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. Insects live in steppes, deserts and meadows. The only reason The reason they leave their habitat is a lack of food.

Most species of mantises are active during the daytime.

What do praying mantises eat?

These arthropods are predators, so they mainly feed on other insects. Predators hunt flies, mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees, butterflies, beetles and cockroaches.

The largest representatives of this order attack small amphibians, birds and rodents.

How do praying mantises reproduce?

In insects, the transformation cycle is not complete. Mantises are characterized by sexual demorphism. Those who live in the tropics reproduce all year round. For inhabitants of temperate climate zone The breeding season begins with the onset of autumn.

Males look for females to mate with. They dance a ritual dance so that their partner does not see them as her food. In order for offspring to appear, the process of fertilization is required.

When a female praying mantis lays unfertilized eggs, they become nymphs.

Often the male dies after fertilization. The partner eats it, thereby replenishing its supply of nutrients.

There are varieties in which the male praying mantis remains alive after fertilization.

The female lays eggs on trees or tall grass. She has to squeeze them out of her ovipositor.

With the help of a sticky secretion from special glands, it protects fertilized eggs, which end up in a kind of capsule. The female, depending on the variety, can lay 10-400 eggs.

The capsule or edema can be of various shades from light yellow to gray. After laying eggs, the females soon die. Praying mantis larvae hatch from eggs at varying intervals - from 3 weeks to 6 months.

Photo of a praying mantis

The common mantis is an insect belonging to the family of true mantises. This is the most common representative of the species in Europe.

Description

This is a fairly large insect. The common mantis, whose sizes range from 42 to 52 mm (males) and from 48 to 75 mm (females), is a predator. It has forelimbs adapted for holding food. The praying mantis is part of the cockroach order, forming a numerous species consisting of three thousand subspecies.

His name was given by Carl Linnaeus, the great taxonomist, who noticed that the pose of the praying mantis, when it sits in ambush, is very reminiscent of a person folding his hands in prayer. Therefore the scientist named him Mantis religiosa, which translates as “religious priest.”

Coloring

You are probably familiar with the common praying mantis from your school biology textbooks. Its color type is very variable, ranging from yellow or green to dark brown or brownish-gray. Usually it corresponds to the habitat and matches the color of the grass, stones and leaves.

The most common color is green or white-yellow. Older individuals have a paler outfit. Dark brown spots appear on the body with age. This is explained by the fact that the body stops producing amino acids important for life: methionine, leucine, tryptophan, etc. In laboratory conditions, when these substances are added to food, the life of the insect almost doubles - up to four months. This is the maximum period that an ordinary praying mantis can live.

Biological features

These insects have well-developed wings, they fly well, but males move this way only at night, and during the day they occasionally allow themselves to flutter from branch to branch. The praying mantis has four wings. Two of them are dense and narrow, and the other two are thin and wide. They are able to open up like a fan.

The head of the praying mantis is triangular, very mobile, connected to the chest. It can rotate 180 degrees. This insect has well-developed front legs, which have powerful and sharp spines. With their help, it grabs its victim and then eats it.

The photo of the common mantis, which you can see below, clearly demonstrates that this insect has well-developed eyes. It has excellent vision. A predator, while in ambush, monitors its surroundings and instantly reacts to moving objects. It approaches the prey and grabs it with its strong paws. After this, the victim does not have the slightest chance of survival.

Unlike males, who feed on rather small insects, heavy, large females prefer their fellows of the same, and sometimes larger, size than them. Interesting story, associated with told E. Teal. He observed a funny situation on the street of one of the American cities. Car traffic was stopped. The drivers watched with interest the duel between the sparrow and the praying mantis. Surprisingly, the insect won the fight, and the sparrow had to retreat from the battlefield in shame.

Photo of the common mantis, habitat

The praying mantis is quite widespread in southern Europe - from Portugal to Ukraine and Turkey. He did not bypass the islands either Mediterranean Sea(Corsica, Balearic, Sicily, Sardinia, islands Aegean Sea, Malta, Cyprus). It is often found in Sudan and Egypt, in the Middle East from Iran to Israel, and on the Arabian Peninsula.

The habitat of the common mantis also covers the southern regions of our country. Presumably introduced to the eastern United States, to New Guinea, in the 1890s. From these territories he populated almost all of America and southern Canada. At the very beginning of this century, the praying mantis was discovered in Costa Rica. There is unofficially confirmed evidence that the common mantis was found in Jamaica, Australia and Bolivia.

In Europe, the northern border of the range passes through countries and regions such as Belgium and France, Tyrol and southern Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria, southern Poland and Slovakia, forest-steppe regions of Ukraine and southern Russia.

Scientists note that at the end of the 20th century, the range began to expand to the north. The number of these insects has increased significantly in northern Germany, and the common mantis has appeared in Latvia and Belarus.

Features of reproduction

It must be said that it is not easy for a male praying mantis to start a romantic relationship: a female, larger and stronger, can easily eat an unlucky suitor, especially during the period when she is not ready to mate or is too hungry. Therefore, the common praying mantis (male) takes all precautions.

Mating season

Having noticed the fair half, the male begins to creep up on her much more carefully than on the most dangerous and sensitive prey. The human eye cannot detect his movements. It seems that the insect is not moving at all, but it is gradually approaching the female, trying to come from behind. If the female turns in his direction at this moment, the male freezes in place for a long time, while swaying a little. Biologists believe that these movements are a signal that switches the female's behavior from hunting to love.

This rather peculiar courtship can last up to six hours. It is better for the gentleman to be a little late for this date than to rush a minute. The common mantis breeds at the very end of summer. In Russia, mating occurs from mid-August to early September. The influence of sex hormones provokes an increase in aggressiveness in the behavior of the insect. At this time, cases of cannibalism are common. main feature common mantis- devouring by a female of a male after, and sometimes during mating.

There is a version that a male praying mantis cannot copulate if he has a head, so sexual intercourse in insects begins with an unpleasant procedure for the male - the female tears off his head. However, more often mating occurs without victims, but after its completion the female eats the male, and even then only in half the cases.

As it turned out, she eats her partner not because of her special bloodthirstiness or harmfulness, but because great need in the protein at the first stage of egg development.

Offspring

The common mantis, a photo of which you can see in this article, lays eggs in ootecae. This is a special form of laying, characteristic of mollusks and cockroaches. It consists of horizontal rows of eggs, of which there can be two or more.

The female fills them with a foamy protein substance, which, when hardened, forms a capsule. Typically, up to 300 eggs are laid. The capsule has a fairly solid structure that easily sticks to plants or stones, protecting the egg from external influences.

Optimal humidity and temperature are maintained inside the capsule. In the ooteca, eggs cannot die even at temperatures down to -18 °C. IN temperate latitudes eggs overwinter, and in the southern regions incubation period is a month.

Larvae

Thirty days later, larvae emerge from the eggs. There are small spikes on their surface that help them get out of the capsule. After this, the larvae molt. Later they shed their skin and become similar to adults, but without wings. The larva of the common mantis is very mobile, it has a protective coloring.

In most areas of distribution, these hatch in late April - early May. In two and a half months they molt five times. Only after this do they become adult insects. The process of puberty lasts two weeks, then the males begin to look for their other half for mating. Mantises live in natural conditions for two months. The males die first. After mating, they no longer look for prey, become very lethargic and quickly die. They live only until September, and females survive them for a month. Their age ends in October.

Lifestyle and diet

The basis of the praying mantis' diet is insects. The largest individuals (mainly females) often attack lizards, frogs and even birds. The common mantis eats its prey slowly. This process can last about three hours, and the food is digested over the course of a week.

The praying mantis can hardly be called a lover of hiking. Only towards the end of summer do males radically change their lifestyle: they begin to wander around. When faced with its fellow insect, the insect gets into a fight, and the loser has a chance not only to die, but also to become dinner for the victorious opponent. Of course, on these journeys, male mantises are not looking for tournament glory at all, they need the love of a beautiful female.

The habitat of the common mantis is a tree or bush, but sometimes they can freeze on the grass or on the ground. Insects move from tier to tier, so they can be found both at the top of the crown and at the foot of a tall tree. And another one interesting feature: The mantis reacts exclusively to moving targets. He is not interested in stationary objects.

This predator is very voracious. An adult insect eats up to seven centimeter-sized cockroaches at a time. It takes approximately thirty minutes to eat the victim. First it eats soft tissues, and only after that it starts to eat hard ones. The praying mantis leaves limbs and wings from the cockroach. Softer insects are eaten whole. Typically, the praying mantis prefers When it has enough food, it lives on one tree throughout its life.

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 awaiting 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 inner side of the coxae of the forelimbs there is 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 thread-like antennae and three simple ocelli. The mouthparts of the gnawing type are directed downward. 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 the right shade of green and strategically placed dark areas, and can bend their abdomen so that it appears exact copy parts of a 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° northern latitude; Western 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 merchant ships to North America and Australia. In Russia, distributed in the European part (south of 50 - 54° N), in the Caucasus, in 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. A distinctive feature of 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-colored stripes of varying widths run throughout the body, head and paws. Brown. The elytra and pronotum are colored olive-green.

Praying mantis Creobroter gemmatus, which is also called Indian flower mantis, is a typical inhabitant rain forests India, Vietnam and other South Asian countries. 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 spines on the thighs different heights. The body is colored cream with brown or greenish spots.

Praying mantis Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii lives in areas with hot and humid climates. 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 tropical forests 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 fairly dry areas of Africa, located south of the desert Sahara, 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 bushes, 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 of 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 tropical zone 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 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 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. By 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 habitats of the common mantis tall trees and bush. Insects prefer a sedentary lifestyle. 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 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 adverse external influences: they withstand negative temperature and are not destroyed by pesticides.

The praying 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 sound 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. 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. Crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and flies are perfect. Some species of praying mantises will not mind eating ants. And at the same time, 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.

Mantis- This large insect from the family biological species cockroaches, mantises. The total length of a male individual reaches 52 mm, females 75 mm. Their main weapons are their front limbs, which they use to grab food.

Its appearance is variable, from green to yellow, gray and dark brown. The color matches well external environment, allowing you to blend in with your surroundings, creating a natural camouflage.

There is a pronotum of short length, their front legs are very fast, intended for hunting and movement. The hind limbs are needed only for movement. Males and females have wings, but the latter fly little due to their too large dimensions. The abdomen is ovoid and long.

History of the name

People have known about praying mantises for a long time, but they for a long time have not been studied in detail. Ignorance continued until the authoritative naturalist, member of the Academy of Sciences in Paris, Swede Carl Linnaeus, spoke about these amazing creatures more than 300 years ago.

In the written work “System of Nature”, the scientist gave insects their current names, the hero of the article was given the name from two words - god and prayer . Why the author gave this name is now a mystery. But there is an opinion that this name was given because of the front legs, often folded as if the creature was praying. In 1758 the name "mantis" was given.

Zoologists were able to establish a habitat that includes most of globe. They have a year-round cycle, do not hibernate and do not reduce their activity. Their life is short-lived, They live on average about a year and during this time they grow up, hunt, lay offspring and die.

Does the praying mantis bite?

It bites and how. An insatiable appetite pushes them to constantly search for food and attack.

The creature is predator, the strategy is to ambush the victim. While hunting, the creature merges with the vegetation, the victim is unaware of the danger, which plays into the hands of the natural aggressor. It does not give itself away and behaves absolutely naturally. A special feature is that the hunter can rotate the existing head 180 degrees.

When attacked, the victim is engulfed by the strong front legs and held between the spiked thigh and lower leg.

Bogomolovs are too agile, they waste time on jumping just 100 milliseconds, giving the victim almost no chance of salvation. They control the ongoing flight in the air by controlling their body, which distinguishes them from other insects; they often lose control of their movement in the air.

Interesting fact: Scientists believe that robotic jumpers can be created using models of their body movements.

What does a praying mantis eat?

The diet of the praying mantis is very varied. Often everything depends on the age and stage of development; with growth, the needs and size of the hunted object increase.

Young individuals try to choose something simpler, such as flies, but older individuals can no longer satisfy their appetite only with flies. They hunt frogs, scorpions, lizards, bees and sometimes small birds.

Biologists rarely get to see with their own eyes how a hunt takes place for a creature larger than a predator. In some countries, people love these creatures because they destroy harmful insects in their fields.

The female praying mantis eats the male after mating - is this true?

The so-called mating season when individuals mate to reproduce their own kind. But it is often said that this process can be used for making horror films.

Their difference mating games from other species is that the female devours the male during mating. It turns all 180 degrees and bites off the male's head. In this case, mating does not stop, nothing changes. Males then either receive severe damage and pretend to be dead, or more often lose their heads altogether. Their vital activity ceases and death occurs. Death occurs in half of the cases.

The fertilized female then lays eggs in ooteca. This is exactly how the population of these strange individuals develops in a unique way.

The reason for this phenomenon is still unclear, but according to biologists, everything can happen for the reason that the male cannot copulate while he has a head; mating begins only when the male loses his head.

A female can also eat a male because she has a strong need for proteins at the initial stage of testicular development.

For fertilized individuals, everything ends just as tragically; they lay eggs in a nest, which they previously made from their foamy mucus. After laying eggs they die. Couples give lives to others, giving their own in return.

Is the praying mantis dangerous for humans?

There is still no clear answer to this question. On the one hand, a person is not the subject of the creature’s interest, but on the other hand, caution is never superfluous.

If you are lucky enough to find a praying mantis and pick it up, then you must do this with caution, since the insect can mistake your fingers for prey and bite. You should not grab them by the shield; they perceive this as an act of aggression and will defend themselves.

They cling very tightly and bite painfully.

There have been cases when the mantis itself showed aggression towards a person; perhaps the excessive activity of people frightened them and this resulted in sudden attacks, which are expressed in the fact that the attacker simply thrashes his front paws on the person’s skin.

Mantis at home

Below are some tips for keeping these predatory individuals at home:

You must immediately remember that praying mantises should never be kept together, this is fraught with cannibalism. First you need to determine the size of its room.
Suitable for a small individual Plastic container, after growth it is necessary to increase the living space. For an adult, a terrarium with a width and length equal to the size of two adults and up to three in height is suitable. For example, if a mantis is 8 cm long, its house should have parameters of 14-14-20 cm, no less. This way the pet can feel comfortable.
Inside, the space should be equipped with various driftwood, allowing the inhabitants to cling when molting. They shed upside down, and if they break loose and fall to the ground, they die. To avoid this, the ceiling is often covered with a mesh-like fabric.
They require different temperatures, depending on the type. Deserted you need from 28 to 40 °C, tropical it should be 25-30°C, and spray with water every evening.
Lighting in the container should be from 8 to 10 hours a day.
Feeding is a separate and complex process. Active predators require live food: flies, cockroaches, locusts, crickets. They do not accept dead food. After the killing, they chew the food thoroughly and spit out the hard chitin. Lifespan directly depends on feeding. Oddly enough, the more a praying mantis eats, the faster it ages.
Optimal feeding frequency for an adult once every two days. Water is not so important if it is in the food itself. But it is acceptable to place a wet sponge or spray water in the room.
Newborn praying mantises need to be fed the day after they emerge from the edema; fruit flies are more suitable for them. Cubs need to be fed every day.

There are situations of refusal to eat. The reason may be that the molt is approaching or because the prey is not the right size for him.

Praying mantises are large insects with a narrow, elongated body. Born predators and masters of camouflage, they ambush their prey, blending completely into the foliage and branches. By exterminating phytophagous insects, they bring benefits agriculture. The common praying mantis is a typical representative of the order of praying mantises, living in Europe. Characteristic insects - front legs equipped with tools for grasping and holding prey. There are sharp spikes on the thighs and lower legs, which, like a trap, catch an unwary victim. Many people know about the mating cannibalism of praying mantises. This amazing feature has become a source of inspiration for writing scary stories and making films.

Description of the species

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.

Common praying mantis

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

Information. 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.

History of the name

Distribution area

The Mantisreligiosa species is thermophilic and cannot be found beyond the 50th parallel. Northern border distribution in Europe passes through southern Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and France. The common praying mantis is often found in southern European regions, on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, in Sudan, and in the Middle East. Predatory insects were introduced to remote parts of the world - New Guinea, USA, partially inhabited southern Canada. Climate warming is promoting the expansion of the habitat to the north. Adult Mantisreligiosa is recorded in Belarus and Latvia, where it did not live before. In Russia, insects live in large numbers on the Black Sea coast, in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

Lifestyle

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. The favorite habitats of the common mantis are tall trees and bushes. Insects prefer a sedentary lifestyle. 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 live 2-3 months in natural conditions. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.

Like any insect, the praying mantis has many natural enemies. He is hunted by birds, snakes, small mammals, the bats. The arthropod runs slowly and takes off heavily. Its terrifying dance with its wings spread like a fan scares off only inexperienced young birds. For other large hunters, the mantis is easy prey.

Meaning in nature

The biological significance of the common mantis is associated with its lifestyle. He is a predator that destroys harmful insects. Adults and larvae eat phytophages on trees and shrubs. Attempts have been made more than once to organize the protection of agricultural lands with the help of praying mantises. Large-scale plans to use predators as biological weapons against pests have not been successful, but many farmers are buying Mantisreligiosa oothecae. They are placed in gardens to safely kill aphids and thrips.

Sexual dimorphism of insects is clearly expressed in the sizes of male and female individuals.

The sexual behavior of insects is closely studied by scientists. Relations between partners are divided into two stages:

pre-court;
pairing.

IN temperate climate The breeding season is August-September. At the end of the abdomen of males there are sensitive olfactory organs - cerci. With their help, insects capture the pheromones of females. The courtship process involves carefully approaching the object of passion. The male slowly and carefully moves towards the female, trying to go around her from behind. When she turns her head, she freezes in place, taking advantage of the fact that mantises do not react to motionless figures. Courtship takes several hours, but allows you to remain alive until mating.

Having reached a potential partner, the male jumps on her back. It supports itself with its legs, placing them in special grooves on the sides of the female’s mesothorax. In such a safe position, he begins copulation. The process can last 4-5 hours. In 50% of cases the male manages to escape. Having run away from his partner to a safe distance, he freezes for several minutes. This is necessary for relaxation.

Praying mantises are insects with incomplete metamorphosis. The development of an individual occurs in 3 stages: egg, larva, imago. 10-11 days after fertilization, the female common mantis lays eggs. The masonry is 100-300 pieces. A sticky secretion is released along with the eggs. After the liquid hardens, an ootheca is formed - a protective capsule in which the masonry is not exposed external influence. The ootheca is yellow or brown in color and is attached to branches or stones. The eggs remain overwintering.

Larvae

The offspring of praying mantises appear in the spring. The larvae are born with many spines on the body and two filaments on the abdomen. The spines help the young to get out of the capsule. The larvae hang on the tail threads, this is how the first molt occurs. They will have to go through 4 more molts before they mature. Wingless larvae are similar in appearance to adults. They feed on fruit flies, aphids, and thrips.

Cannibalism during mating

During the breeding season, under the influence of sex hormones, the aggressiveness of females increases. The partner is in danger if the female has been fasting for 2-3 days. She may attack the male before copulation. This will give the necessary nutrients, moreover, the size of the prey is larger than common insects. The partner runs the risk of dying during mating; loss of the head does not affect copulation. Eating the male after accepting the spermatophore has the same reasons. The female mantis provides nutrition for future offspring, increasing the chances of production large quantity eggs

Interesting fact. Males choose large, well-fed females to mate with, this reduces the risk of being eaten during fertilization.

The domestic praying mantis is an exotic pet that can live at home for about a year. Insects are smart, sociable, and quite large in size. To house your pet you will need a terrarium. They come in two types: plastic and glass. The second option is preferable. Air access is provided by a mesh lid. The length of the dwelling should be 3 times the size of the praying mantis’ body.

The heat-loving insect requires a temperature of 22-26°C. It can be maintained with a special heater or a lamp installed near the container. Recommended humidity 40-60%. Maintained by daily spraying of the substrate. It is not necessary to install a drinking bowl; moisture on the walls of the terrarium is enough. The pet is picked up without fear; the more often the contact occurs, the sooner it gets used to the person.

Sand or coconut sawdust is poured onto the bottom as a substrate. Twigs and driftwood are placed inside for the insect to crawl on. Important nuance when keeping several common mantises, place them in different containers. This will prevent cannibalism, which is typical for the species. Food for the predator includes grasshoppers, flies, locusts, crickets, and cockroaches. Pets are fed every 2-3 days. Depending on the size, 1-3 food insects are given at a time. By launching the prey inside the container, you can watch the hunt.

Security measures

Despite the widespread distribution of insects in some regions of Russia, the common mantis is listed in the Red Book. Go to category rare species it is listed in the Chelyabinsk, Voronezh, Kurgan, Belgorod and Lipetsk regions. The number of insects has decreased as a result of plowing, grass burning, continuous hayfields, and the use of pesticides in cultivating fields. In the habitats of mantises it is limited economic activity. To protect the species, plowing land, grazing livestock, using pesticides, killing or capturing insects is prohibited. In Germany, the common mantis is included in the Red List as a declining species. It cannot be caught in the wild and kept at home as a pet.