Praying mantis a wonder in the insect world
Maybe it's those big eyes. The spooky gaze. Or perhaps it's the reverent posture.
One thing is certain: There's no other animal like the praying mantis. An encounter with this bizarre beast is one you won't forget. Known collectively as mantids, these critters have evolved a unique set of behaviors, appearance, and survival strategies that make them well suited for life in the Midwest.
There are three types of mantids in this region. These three species share similar features that make them easily recognizable: a triangular head, large eyes, and huge forelegs. Their greenish-brown to tan coloration renders them nearly invisible in vegetation where they lie in wait, motionless, for their next meal.
The native species, the Carolina mantid, ranges from 2 to 3 inches in length. Its natural range is extensive, spreading from Virginia to Florida, west to Mexico and California and northeast to Illinois and Indiana. The European mantid is similar in appearance to the Carolina, and it can be tough to distinguish the two. After being accidentally introduced to North America on nursery stock in 1899, European mantid held promise as a predator of Gypsy Moth caterpillars. Unfortunately, the European mantids are neither numerous enough nor specialized enough to make much of an impact on the troublesome moths.
The monster of mantids is the Chinese mantid, a four-inch terror of the insect world. The Chinese mantid was brought to North America in 1896 for pest control and is widely propagated for that purpose even today. As with its mantid cousins, the Chinese mantid is camouflaged in vegetation. Once you spot one, though, your attention will be riveted to this six-legged beast. It is a striking sight to behold.
Hunting for mates
Mantids undergo gradual metamorphosis, similar to grasshoppers. In gradual metamorphosis, eggs develop into nymphs that look similar to adults. In early summer, nymphs emerge from their egg cases and are ravenously hungry. These little guys are highly carnivorous and may resort to cannibalism if pressed for space and resources. Mantid nymphs grow bigger and bigger, molting as they outgrow their "skin" or exoskeleton. After several molts, the mantids reach adulthood. In late summer and early fall, they continue their quest for prey, but now they're looking for mates as well.
After successfully scoring a date, the female and male copulate. Soon thereafter the female lays 30 to 300 eggs in an egg case resembling a polystyrene bag. Mom mantid produces a gummy substance and glues the egg case securely to twigs, branches, fence posts or just about any available surface. By fall you can readily spot mantid egg cases in the field. The eggs will over winter in the protective egg case, ready for hatching come spring.
Pray or prey?
The name "praying mantis" could just as well be "Preying Mantis." The forelegs are deceptively held as if in supplication, yet this illusion of reverence belies the mantis' rapacious habits. As the mantis lies in wait, its keen eyesight detects movement of potential meals, and the large head can swivel 180 degrees to follow a juicy morsel until just the right moment for attack. With lightning speed, the formidable forelegs strike like a jackknife. Holding the hapless victim with a grip of steel, the mantid shows no mercy as it methodically rips apart and consumes its prey.
Evolution has honed this method of hunting in the wild, and humans have learned from mantids' amazing behavior. Some 400 years ago, Chinese martial artist Wang Lung observed mantids attacking crickets. Intrigued by the efficiency of the mantid, he poked and prodded it with a piece of straw to test its reaction.
Entomologist Craig Reid described Wang's experiment in his article "Fight Like a Mantis."
"The insect jumped back and forth to escape harm and used its front legs to parry - then finally grasp and crush - the straw," wrote Reid. "After years of studying the insect, Wang developed 13 arm and hand movements inspired by the mantis." Thus was born the style of martial arts known as Tan Lan Chu'an, or praying mantis Kung Fu.
Move over, Black Widow
Male mantids have a well-earned reputation for - shall we say, unsafe sex. Mating is indeed a risky affair for the male, who often becomes a meal for this lover soon after copulation. Cannibalistic sex, however, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Entomologists explain that females do not always devour their mates and cannibalism is not a prerequisite for reproduction. Hunger may be a simple explanation for the practice we find so abhorrent. The female requires lots of calories to produce eggs, and the male is convenient fast food.
Mantids may be fearsome predators, but they are also prey for larger animals such as bats. While some mantids become bat snacks, some are able to escape the flying mammals. How do they manage to dodge voracious bats? Neuroscientist David Yager studied mantids and bats to find the answer. He discovered that mantids possess an ultrasonic detection device in their ear and can hear bats at frequencies far greater than the range we humans can hear. The sonar detector is located in the middle of the mantid's thorax, or chest. When a mantid detects the sonar of a bat, it does a Tom Cruise move. Just like the fighter pilot in Top Gun, the mantis maneuvers with incredible speed and dives straight toward the ground. The mantid escapes unharmed, and bat flies off empty-handed.
Chances are you'll come across a praying mantis while visiting the forest preserves this fall. Wait patiently and watch for the insect with the Bette Davis eyes and the Bruce Lee moves. The praying mantis is surely one of the coolest creatures in Kane County.
• Valerie Blaine is the nature program manager for the Kane County Forest Preserve District. You can reach her at blainevalerie@kaneforest.com.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Mantid myths, fun factoids, and fascinating folklore</p> <p class="News">• Mantis comes from the Greek word for prophet or seer, a reference to the belief that these insects possess supernatural powers.</p> <p class="News">• To distinguish a male from a female Praying Mantis, check the abdominal segments. Females have six, males have eight.</p> <p class="News">• Ancient African mythology makes reference to Praying Mantises which could transform into animal or human forms, die and be reborn repeatedly. According to wildwatch.com, some African children "still use mantises to 'divine' the whereabouts of lost sheep or goats, and in Afrikaans, the mantis is referred to as 'the Hottentot's God.' These charismatic little creatures have enjoyed similar attention elsewhere in the world, with Arabic and Turkish cultures once regarding the mantis as a pointer to Mecca."</p> <p class="News">•In France, legend has it that Praying Mantises show lost children the way back home.</p> <p class="News">• The Praying Mantis' closest relative is the cockroach.</p>