Mantises are warm weather-loving insects that are also voracious bug eaters, but they do not discriminate between the beneficial and the harmful - they will eat whatever comes in their path. If you bring home an egg case to hatch praying mantises in your garden, don't expect them to stick around as pets. They will travel where the food is, and if there isn't enough in your garden they will move on to better pickings. Larger insects will even prey on small birds, such as hummingbirds, and lizards.
Mantises get their coined name 'praying mantises' because of the way they hold their front legs - in a prayer-like stance.
Here is some information on these bugs if you discover them in your garden.
Animal Classification
Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Insecta; Order: Mantodea.
Location
Praying mantises are found all over the world, generally in warmer areas, all over North America and Europe. They eat other bugs, so anywhere where there would be vegetation is where they are. Their lifespan is about a year in tropical areas, typically dying off during the wintertime.
Description and Behaviors
Praying mantises range in color, most commonly browns and greens, and they tend to camouflage themselves to the vegetation around them. Females are larger than males, and the adult female commonly cannibalizes the male during or after mating. Praying mantises are unique insects with their ability to swivel their heads. They are voracious bug eaters and many gardeners enjoy having them around to help reduce bug populations. But if they are purchased for this reason, just know that they do not discriminate between the good and bad bugs in the garden, and will even prey upon each other.
Comments
Post a Comment