Masterful disguise, tactical predatory skills, colorful apatite and a built to kill anatomy defines one of natures most

efficient assassins the Praying Mantis. A solitary wonder brooding in the wild, this little creature acts as a muse to some of the brightest minds of our times compelling them to ponder upon the origin of life and the concepts of evolution. The title Praying Mantis has its serene origins in its peculiar stance in which the Mantis has its front forelegs held up together as if in prayer. Originating in the Triassic period the Mantis has survived the wrath of evolution with its human like attitude and behavior and is a living proof of the fact that both the Mantises and the humans share similarities though at a micro level. Belonging to the order Mantodea there are approximately 2400 species of Mantises around the planet. A solitary living by nature the Mantis is subject to the fine balance of the natural world, whose predatory existence spans a measly six months. Called the Dragon in some regions, the Mantis is a fierce hunter and surpasses its neighbors by a mile when it comes to sly and crafty predatory skills. A carnivorous insect, the Mantis has a colorful apatite and could gulp down anything as to butterflies, bees, beetles, frogs, spiders, mice, lizards, small birds and in some cases other mantises. The Alien triangular head and the watchful specs-eyes too are worthy of mentioning. The curious way in which the Mantis turns its head to look at its prey or predator is quite unique amongst insects. The tiny specs of black on its globosely eyes delineate extraordinary eyesight extending up to a phenomenal distance of 18 meters (60 feet). Equipped with natures most proficient camouflage system, the mantis is invisible to the untrained eye. With its twig like movements and leaf like camouflage it could easily fool any predator or prey that comes its way. On top of the icing the sharp spiny frontal claws that the mantis carries with panache is a real killing device. The mantis uses the claws to catch hold of the prey and rips it into pieces with the razor sharp spines. The praying mantis is an insect that even those adverse to creepy crawlies must surely appreciate as a specimen of real beauty, and thats a fact!

Mantis Bites: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. They can turn their triangular heads up to 180 degrees in search for an insect While they are mating, the female praying mantis eats the males head. Praying mantis has excellent eye sight and they can see up to 18 meters (60 feet) away. The female mantis lays up to 300 eggs. The mantis females are the among biggest insects. The female mantis can not fly due to all of the eggs in her abdomen. Mantis nymphs march single file. The mantis nymph is tiny like a mosquito.

9. Praying mantises bite the back of their victim's neck to paralyze it 10. A State Insect? Yes, it is true. The European Mantis (Mantis Religiosa), a native of Southern Europe became the official State Insect of Connecticut on October 1st, 1977! 11. Praying mantis eggs can be sold online and is popular among farmers who purchase them to control pests. 12. In Turkish and Arab cultures, the praying mantis is considered to be pointing to their religious center, Mecca. 13. In French culture, the praying mantis can supposedly guide a lost child home. 14. In most mantids there is one ear in a form of a small slit near the legs and has two eardrums and tuned to25-60 kHz, which allows them to hear the ultrasonic sounds of bats as they near so they can dodge them quickly.