Beneficial Insects
Praying Mantis
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Praying Mantis
The Praying Mantid is a commonly recognized insect predator, and is usually known as the Praying Mantis. While they are still small, the praying mantis will eat aphids and other small plant pests, but as they grow they begin looking for larger prey like flies, moths, caterpillars, and they eventually become less useful for pest control. They rarely go after the smaller insects once they have grown up. They will sit motionless for hours waiting for their next meal to come along. Their popular name comes from the appearance of having folded arms while they are awaiting an insect to come along.
Life Cycle:
When the males and females mate, it often means death for the male! Females are quite cannibalistic, and unless the smaller male makes a good effort to escape, his life is over. Eggs are laid in distinct cases, each of which has over 100 eggs in it. Upon hatching, a young mantis will also eat anything it can grab, including its brothers and sisters!
