Mantis Identification

Praying mantis

Of the 1,500 types of mantis species around the globe, 20 live in the United States. The praying mantis is the one most familiar to people, and is an insect easy to identify by its odd looks.

Color

The color of a mantis can vary between species, with many being some shade of green and many being brown. Their color allows them to blend into the background and avoid detection from predators and prey.

Function

The mantis has a triangular head.

The head of a mantis is triangular and can swivel about on the neck, with a big compound eye positioned on each side. The jaws are strong enough to devour its prey, which is typically another insect.

Front legs

The mantis has spiny front legs.

The front legs of the mantis resemble a switchblade in that they can unfold and reach outward and then close back on themselves, with a series of spines to hold a victim in place.

Identification

The mantis possesses an elongated middle section that leads to a plumper abdomen area in the rear. It has long straight wings that fold over its back.

Size

While some species of tropical mantis can grow to a foot in length, those in the United States are normally 3 to 4 inches long as adults.

References

• Praying Mantis:Ohio State University
• Praying Mantis:Insecta Inspecta