Praying Mantis: Eight Interesting Facts

Praying mantises possess stereo vision, and thanks to the placement of their eyes, they also have a wide field of vision. And not only can mantises see in 3-D, but research has found their 3-D vision works differently from all previously known forms in nature.

Great Vision

Mantises are the only insects capable of turning their heads from side to side. Being able to turn its head without moving the rest of its body is a key advantage for a mantis when hunting, allowing for minimal movement as it sneaks up on prey.

Head Turners

To the surprise of scientists filming them, mantises have been found to jump with extreme precision, contorting their body midair to land on a precarious and specific target.

Agile Like Cats

Praying mantises wait to ambush or patiently stalk their prey, but once they’re ready to strike, they do so with lightning speed, attacking with those big front legs so quickly it’s hard to see with the naked eye. .

Swift Work of Prey

Praying mantises are supremely gifted in camouflage. They come in the form of leaves and sticks and branches, like many insects, but also take it a bit further. .

Masters of Disguise

Praying mantises are carnivores with a taste for live food. However, they aren't picky eaters — they're also known to prey on helpful insects like native bees and butterflies, so their overall effect on pest control is difficult to predict. .

Only Eat Live Food

Mantises don’t stop at eating insects. They also target other arthropods like spiders, and sometimes even small vertebrate animals.

Ambitious Predators

Male praying mantises do not always survive the mating season. Between 13 and 28 percent of mating encounters end with sexual cannibalism, in which the female praying mantis bites off the head of the male and eats him.

Sexual Cannibalism