How much do you know about praying mantises?
When we are on the road, passing by the bushes, perhaps we will encounter a kind of small insect, they appear in front of you with two "sickles", what kind of insect is this? It's the praying mantis!
The praying mantis belongs to the order Mantodea in the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda. Insects of the order Mantodea are collectively referred to as praying mantises. They are carnivorous insects, both adults and nymphs are predatory, feeding on other insects and small animals, and are well-known beneficial insects in agriculture and forestry. There are over 2200 known species worldwide, widely distributed in most tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
The iconic feature of the praying mantis is its two "swords," or forelimbs. They have a row of hard serrations on top, each ending in a hook, used to grasp prey. Their hunting movements are extremely agile, earning them the title of "assassin" in the insect world. Their scythe-like forelimbs, their primary hunting weapons, can be flexed freely to help them easily capture other insects. It's said that the speed at which a praying mantis thrusts its arms out is ten times faster than the blink of a human eye, making it extremely accurate.
The head of the praying mantis is triangular in shape, capable of flexible rotation, with prominent, large, and bright eyes. If you've observed a praying mantis, you'll notice that no matter from which angle you look at its face, its tiny eyeballs always seem to be staring at you.
The praying mantis often strolls between grassy areas and forests. Although it moves slowly, it is a first-rate ambush predator. They typically do not actively chase prey but instead quietly wait on plants, with a pair of front legs folded in front of their chest, ready to ambush prey at any moment. The movements of the praying mantis during hunting often leave people amazed. Whether the prey flies or crawls closer to the mantis, it accurately calculates their speed of movement, then gradually approaches them step by step. When the timing is right, the mantis suddenly stands up, and with its sword-like front legs, it fiercely strikes the prey, killing it almost instantaneously. Then, using its small yet powerful mouth, it tears open the prey and eats it voraciously.
The praying mantis's powerful capturing and chewing abilities, along with its "never say no to meat" appetite, allow it to prey on almost any insect smaller than itself, earning it the nickname "the tiger of the insect world."
If you're an insect enthusiast, you can try our praying mantis metal assembly model kit and enjoy the DIY fun with your family. Whether it's used as a gift or a home decoration, the combination of LED lights and punk style is impressive!
