Praying Mantis

Mantodea (or mantises) are an order of insects that contain approximately 2,200 species in 15 families worldwide. Found mostly in temperate and tropical habitats. This one looks positively other-worldly. I won't begin to try and name its species.

It was a cool, breezy Florida day and this guy seemed quite happy with the weather. The maximum temperature was in the low 70°s F. (22° C.).

These insects are colloquially referred to as praying mantises, because of their prayer-like stance.

Mantises have two grasping, spiked forelegs in which prey are caught and held. They are exclusively predatory with other insects forming the majority of their diet.

It is theorized that mantises evolved from proto-cockroaches. Their closest living relatives are termites (of which we have no shortage; order Isoptera) and cockroaches (order Blattodea). . . which are also abundant in Florida.

There's an urban myth that killing a mantis is illegal in the United States. The origin of the myth likely comes from the low number of sightings and because of the beneficial nature of the insect.

Visit

PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD II

and

PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD III

for more photos