# Praying Mantis (*Gryllus religiosus*) Praying Mantises are cool insects that look like they are always praying! They are expert hunters and can turn their heads to look around. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Gardens and forests - **Also known as:** Mantis, Praying Mantis Shrimp ![Praying Mantis](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426675/objects/5565.jpg) ## Appearance The Praying Mantis has a distinctive triangular head with large eyes and a long, slender body, often green or brown. Its most unique feature is its pair of large, spiky front legs held in a "praying" position. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Mantodea - **Family:** Mantidae - **Genus:** Mantis ## Interesting facts - Some mantises are so tiny they fit on your fingernail. - Their ears are on their belly, between their legs! - They can see in 3D, just like humans do. - They sometimes eat their mates after breeding! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Praying Mantis has incredible camouflage that helps them blend perfectly with plants, making them nearly invisible. - **Swiveling Sight:** Praying Mantis can rotate its triangular head almost 180 degrees, allowing them to spot prey without moving. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 80-100 mm - **Size:** 50-90 mm - **Lifespan:** 150-200 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding A fierce hunter, the Praying Mantis eats many different insects to survive. - **Age differences:** Young mantises eat smaller insects like aphids; adults take on larger prey. - **Primary Foods:** flies, crickets, moths, grasshoppers, bees - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Common insect prey for mantises. - **Hunts:** [Meadow Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-grasshopper) (*Chorthippus parallelus*) — A frequently caught meal for mantises. - **Hunts:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Often caught at flowers by mantises. - **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Birds can prey on mantises. - **Eaten by:** [Common Wall Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wall-lizard) (*Podarcis muralis*) — Lizards are known predators. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Praying Mantis? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Praying Mantis's wingspan? 80-100 mm ### How big is Praying Mantis? 50-90 mm ### How long does Praying Mantis live? 150-200 days ### What does Praying Mantis eat? A fierce hunter, the Praying Mantis eats many different insects to survive. ### Where is Praying Mantis usually found? Gardens and forests ### How does Praying Mantis hunt? Ambush ### How many legs does Praying Mantis have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Audubon Insectarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-insectarium) — Louisiana, US · Zoo - [Butterfly House, Missouri Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butterfly-house-missouri-botanical-garden) — Missouri, US · Zoo ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Praying Mantis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/praying-mantis)