How to Make a Praying Mantis Angry

While it may seem torturous to make a praying mantis angry, it is also a method used to get the insect riled up to grab something and eat. Several simple tips will help enrage a praying mantis, so just make sure to step back unless you like to get attacked.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stick or other sharp object
• Wide-lipped drinking glass
• Small, meaty food chunks

1. Startle it by pretending to grab at it or screaming in its general direction.

2. Poke at it in the face, preferably with something it can grab and bite (i.e., not your finger).

3. Capture it in an overturned drinking glass. You can stick small particles of the foodstuff to the inside of the glass for when the praying mantis starts to claw at it.

4. Confuse it. This can be done by coming at it from several directions at once or teasing it by poking at it and then running away and coming back again.

Tips & Warnings

• Draw the line and stop if the praying mantis appears to be getting way too stressed out.
• Use some common sense. Don’t kill the thing with a heart attack.