Life Cycle of a

Praying Mantis
The life cycle of a Praying Mantis
is very unique. A Praying Mantis goes
through gradual metamorphosis. The
life span of a Praying Mantis is about
10 to 12 months. It starts off with
the female laying 10 to 400 eggs
around the autumn season. The eggs
are secured in a frothy mass that
comes from the abdomen. This
produces a protective coat around
the egg, and then this egg is called
an ootheca. In the spring, a small
nymph comes out of the egg. While
it is growing it will replace its outer
body covering with an exoskeleton
and molting whenever it needs to.
After it molts for the final time, most
species have wings. Finally, the
nymphs become adults and the
Praying Mantis’ mate. Then the
female ,sometimes, eats the head of
the male. The female then lays
about 10 to 400 eggs and the cycle
starts over.

How and What a

Praying Mantis
Eats
Praying Mantis’ are predators. They
eat

by hiding and waiting patiently for

their prey

to walk by and then they grab them

with their

forelegs that are lined with sharp

spines.
They then bite the prey’s neck to
paralyze it

and then eat it. They eat mainly other

insects, but larger species have been

known

to eat small reptiles, mammals, or

birds.

How a Praying
Mantis
Defends Itself
To defend itself against predators, a Praying

Mantis will stand up , raise its front legs, and

open its wings to make itself seem bigger. It

then

makes clicking sounds to scare the enemy if it

is

harassing the Praying Mantis. If this does not

work, it will fly away or it will jab at the enemy

with its front legs. Enemies of the Praying

Mantis

are the Asian Giant Hornet, cats, and birds.

This

is how a Praying Mantis defends itself.

Interesting
Facts
about the Praying
Mantis
The Praying Mantis is a very interesting
insect. First of all, it

is called the “Praying” Mantis because its front

legs are always
raised in a prayer-like stance. They can turn
their heads 180

degrees to search for bugs and scan for

surroundings. They can see

up to 18 meters away. As mentioned in the life

cycle page, when the

Praying Mantis’ are done mating, the female

will sometimes eat the

head of the male. Also, Praying Mantis’ have

camouflage on their

backs like leaves which blend into their habitat,

which is grass and

leaves (plants) in many continents: North and

South America,

Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa. These

are some

interesting facts about the Praying Mantis.