|
Mantids are often dubbed “the strangest looking creature of the insect world.” For centuries they have been associated with various different religious cultures and even said to cure certain ailments. Although the curative powers given to the mantid remains unproven, even today these amazing insects are used in some cultures to cure such problems as bedwetting, impotence and other such problems. The mantid is from the Mantidae family of insects and commonly called the praying mantis. It is believed that their impact in the religious world comes from their Greek name, Mantes, which when translated means prophet.
Mantids can be found throughout the world and are often considered beneficial due to their habit of eating other insects that are often considered pest. These amazing creatures, with their stick like bodies, were commonly named praying mantis because they appear to hold their large front legs in a prayerful manner. The mantid, depending on the species can be green to a pale brownish color. The body of this insect will sometimes reach a length of up to four inches. Mantids have powerful wings and when flying have often been mistaken for small birds such as the hummingbird. Although many people believe the mantid can bite, they are actually only capable of applying a small pinch with the grasping “hands” on their front legs.
The mantid is a carnivorous insect that in most cases remains motionless until its prey is in reach. Occasionally a mantid will very slowly move toward its prey in a stalking manner but this usually occurs when the prey is moving away or the mantid is very hungry. Many people keep mantids as pets in their home, feeding them live insects. These amazing creatures are fascinating to watch, cannot bite, do not spread any forms of disease, can be easily cared for and prey on plant damaging insects such as aphids, roaches, mosquitoes and some flies.
The mantid will first appear as an adult in the last few weeks of summer even though they have been present as nymphs since the later weeks of spring. As adults they mate, with the fertile female depositing her eggs in rather large groups on plants. After the female has completed this task she will die within a few weeks but in some species, not before devouring the male she has mated with. Each group of eggs is encased in a foamy substance that will harden into a tough protective casing. The eggs will remain unhatched through the cold winter months, cocooned inside their protective shell. The following spring the eggs will hatch and the nymphs appear to begin feeding on small insects. As the nymphs mature they begin preying on larger insects. By the end of the summer months the mantids have grown at such a fast rate that they are capable of killing such insects as grasshoppers, caterpillars or crickets.
With close to 2,000 species in the mantid families, all of these insects can easily camouflage themselves in their chosen environment. They are often mistaken for twigs, small stems or other vegetation as they lie in wait for their prey. In many areas the mantid eggs are induced as a form of pest control. When disturbed the mantid will rise up in a threatening manner as if ready to attack. Predators of this insect during the nymph stage include ants and spiders. In the adult stage the mantid is preyed on by birds and man, who often consider this insect more of a pest than beneficial! This may be because some species have been introduced for pest control that feed on each other as well as other insects.
|
| |
