Praying Mantis

Missouri Native

Carolina Mantid

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Introduced

Chinese Mantid

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I want to introduce the insect I refer to as the T-Rex of the insect world -- “The Praying Mantis”.  If you watch this insect in action, then you must agree that this is an apt name for such a hungry predator. If you use your imagination, you could say she even resembles the voracious dinosaur of the past. And if that is a stretch, there is no doubt she certainly has the appetite and attitude of Ol’ T-Rex.

Just like T-Rex, our praying mantis is strictly a meat eater.  Although her prey is usually insects, it is not uncommon for her to attack and eat hummingbirds, small frogs and most anything she can get her front legs wrapped around, including her mate!

There is a very good reason for this vicious mating ritual. If the male is not performing up to his abilities, severing his head seems to remedy the problem. With his head sufficiently detached, he will breed with a vim and vigor to make any Don Juan jealous. In addition, the female will also get a healthy nutritious snack in the form of her mate’s brain; the nutrients will aid in egg-laying. Not every mating ends in such a cruel demise for the male; in some instances he is able to get away before his mate has decided he would make a tasty meal

If you’ve never had the pleasure of observing these interesting insects in the wild, let me encourage you to do so. Their ability to stalk, grasp and consume their prey is a talent any Daniel Boone of the Human world would envy. They wait with infinite patience for prey to wander by. She reaches out with her front legs almost too quickly to be seen; don’t blink if you want to see her capture her prey. Their favorite meals are moths, grasshoppers and other juicy large insects. Their appetite for injurious insects have made them legendary helpers to gardeners and farmers alike. While you can order large quantities of these insects to place in your gardens to dine on insects, often they disperse in their search for food and just a few remain in your garden. Your neighbors garden will profit as well.

These wonderful insects make a very interesting and educational pet. I kept one last year in a 10 gallon aquarium in my office at work. The entire office was entertained by “Manny”. Everyone got in on the act of bringing food for our office mascot. The EWWW’s and AHHH’s and OH GROSS’ we heard were music to our ears, as our little friend set about stalking, and consuming the many different insects delivered to her lair. I was in awe of her abilities. She was gentle, and wise, and almost human like. If it is possible to develop an attachment to an insect, we certainly did. In fact we all decided we could not bear the day when “Manny” would pass away to that big insect world in the sky, we all agreed it was time to let her go. We took her to a wonderful spot near the River and released her, back to the wild where she belonged.

In Missouri, there are two different praying mantids – The Carolina Mantid (which is native) and the Chinese Mantid (which was introduced to the US in 1896).  The Carolina Mantid is commonly found in gardens, settled in among the flower heads…waiting. This is the smaller of the two, at around 3 to 4 inches in length. They can be green or brown in color. The Chinese Mantid is much larger than the Carolina Mantid. At around 5 to 6 inches long, they are quite impressive indeed. They can be tan, pale green or a combination of both colors.  The two often share the same habitats, although being very careful not too get close to each other.  Breeding generally takes place in the late summer or early fall. The female will lay her eggs (up to 400) in a foamy liquid on a twig. The liquid will harden around the eggs and form a sponge-like protective shell (it resembles Styrofoam).  The eggs winter over until spring when the nymphs hatch and begin feeding immediately, often times on each other. After feeding vigorously for many months, they will reach adult size in mid summer. I’ve discovered these guys perched on my grapes, in my flower beds, and even by the porch light (appears these are the lazy hunters). If you want to observe these nocturnal insects, get your flashlight out at dark and walk your property – you will be sure to see them. If you are feeling brave, capture one, make it a nice home in a large aquarium and begin feeding your new friend fresh insects. You will be fascinated almost instantly. Your children or grandchildren are sure to think you are cool for keeping such a neat pet, (or at the very least they will think you’ve lost your mind, as my kids think). Nevertheless, experiment, enjoy and then release, to let them go about their business. Remember though…only one per cage!
(Story by Shelly Cox, FOLNC Volunteer, Photos by Steve Scott)