The praying mantis is an amazing insect. Praying mantis - an insanely beautiful and dangerous creature Praying mantis what it eats where it lives
praying mantis - predatory insects who received such interesting name for a special "prayer" pose, which is taken in the process of tracking down prey. For a long time they were classified as cockroaches due to the similarity of signs, but over time they were isolated in separate detachment Bogomolov.
External characteristics of praying mantises
There are more than 2 thousand species of praying mantises on the planet, and all of them radically differ from each other in color and lifestyle. How to determine the type of praying mantis? By outward signs representatives of the Bogomolov detachment have many similar characteristics: a small triangular head, very mobile, with well-developed eyes, a narrow body, articular limbs.
The available front wings, equipped with an intricate pattern, are often used by insects for protection; in the event of an approaching danger, they plow them wide, which scares off the enemy. Transparent rear wings are required for flight. Sometimes completely wingless or short-winged specimens are found. How to determine what species mantises belong to?
Insect specificity
The most specific feature of such a unique insect is its color, which coincides with the color of individual elements of its habitat: stones, grass, flowers, tree leaves. The most common praying mantises are yellow and brown and green, which accounts for 80% of them. total. It is almost impossible to see a motionless praying mantis in the natural environment. An insect can betray its presence only by movement.
The praying mantis moves slowly, but in case of danger it is able to move very quickly to a safe distance and again freeze in place. Because the favorite posture of such a unique insect is expectant. Like spiders, praying mantises are ambushes, ready to patiently wait for a careless cat for days on end.
Praying mantises lead a solitary lifestyle. Activity is shown to a greater extent during the day, as a potential victim is tracked visually. It is precisely because of the long wait that the vast majority of insects have, and some specimens - special form body. For example, species of praying mantis that live in the grass are painted green and resemble a blade of grass, brown-colored insects look like dry twigs. In the praying mantis Choerododis stalii, tiny spots imitate damage to the leaf plate of the plant. Tropical species of praying mantis, waiting for their prey in flowers, have a curved abdomen and flat lobes on their paws, resembling flower petals.
It is especially striking in its adaptability to natural colors, which at a young age has white color, as it matures, it becomes pink, completely indistinguishable from a flower.
Mantis: the most common species
The most common are
In Russia, species of such insects are found mostly in the steppe regions, as well as in the south of Siberia, the North Caucasus, Far East, in South Africa, Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The tree mantis of the genus Hierodula and the spotted mantis (Iris polystictica) also live there.
AT southern regions In Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Empusa praying mantis has adapted, characterized by large sizes (about 6.5 cm in length), a pointed triangular head and a protruding long outgrowth in front.
Preferring open bushy spaces, it is most activated at night. The larvae appear in summer period and immediately switch to eating butterflies and fillies. AT southern regions In Russia, a praying mantis from the genus Bolivaria is often found.
By the way, bolivarians, spotted-winged praying mantises and empusas in some places become rare representatives the animal world due to the destruction of dense herbs during the plowing of steppe lands.
Desert species of praying mantis, whose names are difficult to remember for the average layman, are characterized by their small size and similarity to ants in the process of movement. Rivetins (Rivetina and Armena) are prominent representatives.
Habitat
The praying mantis can live both on the upper tiers of trees and shrubs, and at the very surface of the earth, in the grass. Thanks to well-developed wings, the insect can fly, and only males rush in flight. If there is enough food, the praying mantis can live on a tree until the end of his days.
Being heat-loving by nature, praying mantises feel most comfortable in tropical and subtropical zone. Right there, in moist forests, meets the largest number species of this insect. In a cold climate, predators tend to settle in the warmest regions: upland meadows and steppes.
Nutrition Features
Almost all species of praying mantis feed on insects, representatives of the tropics prefer lizards and frogs. During the day, the praying mantis is able to eat 7 small cockroaches, spending about half an hour chewing each one. In the process of eating, it is consistent: first chews on soft parts, and then moves on to harder ones. The norm of life for them is cannibalism, which sometimes manifests itself at the most inopportune moment.
It is noticed that after mating, it often eats its chosen one. In order not to end up in the stomach of his lady, the partner performs a ritual dance before the act of intercourse, setting the female in a peaceful mood.
Mating of tropical praying mantises is carried out year-round, types of praying mantises temperate zone unite in a single impulse in the autumn period. The female is able to lay up to four hundred eggs several times. The place of masonry chooses any suitable surface: grass stalks, tree branches, sand. The female dips each clutch into a foamy mass, which, when solidified, forms a capsule of gray, brown or sandy color. Egg maturation lasts from 3 weeks to six months. Species temperate climate the eggs survive the winter. Praying mantis nymphs differ from adult insects only in the absence of wings; the body shape is exactly the same, as is the voracity. Growing individuals develop very quickly and in the process of growing up they can survive about fifty molts.
Intimidate the enemy
Praying mantises are peaceful insects, but in the face of an approaching danger they become in an unfriendly "hunting" pose. For greater intimidation, they can make sounds: rustle their wings, click their legs. If this did not have any effect on the enemy, they fly away or rush at the enemy and bite him. Moreover, in an attack on the enemy, in an attempt to stab him forward, he puts forward grasping legs. Enemies of praying mantises are chameleons, snakes, birds. Today, praying mantises are becoming more and more popular and in demand in domestic insectariums.
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29.10.2018
This insect is perhaps the most amazing representative of the arthropod order. Currently, entomologists have identified about 2,000 species of praying mantis that live in various regions of our planet.
Ordinary or religious praying mantis (lat.Mantis religiosa) inhabits most countries of the European continent (from Portugal to Ukraine), is found in Asian countries, in the Mediterranean countries, on the islands of the Aegean Sea, Cyprus, in Africa and, according to some conflicting evidence, was found in Jamaica and Australia.
This insect is absent only in northern latitudes, but can inhabit the steppe regions, rainforests and even rocky deserts (the optimum temperature environment for the praying mantis is in the range from +23 to +30°C).
In the forties of the last century, this predator was introduced into New Guinea and the United States to control agricultural pests, although not all of the population successfully acclimatized to the new conditions.
« Mantis religiosa” literally translates as “religious priest”. Such a strange name was given to the praying mantis by the Swedish naturalist Karl Liney. Back in 1758, the famous naturalist drew attention to the habits of an insect and noticed that this predator, being in ambush and watching for its prey, very much resembles a praying man, bowing his head slavishly and folding his hands on his chest. Such an unusual behavior of the praying mantis prompted the scientist to assign to the object of study such unusual name.
Along with the academic name, the praying mantis also has less euphonious names, for example, "Devil's Horse" or simply "Death" (as insects are called in Spain), which, of course, is associated with its shocking habits and lifestyle. In this case, we are talking about the notorious behavior of the female in relation to the male, which, after the mating process, kills her “betrothed”, biting off his head, and then completely eating it.
Scientists - entomologists explain such an unusual behavior of the female by the renewal of protein reserves, so necessary for her to produce future offspring.
There are also varieties of praying mantis, which have the names "Devil's flower", "Devil's flower", "Prickly flower" and others. All this indicates that praying mantises are great masters in terms of disguise and mimicry.
In ancient China, praying mantises have long been considered a symbol of greed and stubbornness, and the ancient Greeks used them to predict what spring would be like.
As a rule, these insects lead sedentary life and rarely leave their habitual habitats. Only the complete absence of a food base can inspire them to travel.
insect size
An adult praying mantis usually reaches a length of 50 to 75 millimeters, although withThere is also a variety of insects ( lat . Ischnomantis gigas), some representatives of which can reach 17 (!) Centimeters in length. A slightly smaller size (up to 16 centimeters) also grows a giant branch praying mantis ( lat . Heterochaeta orientalis).
The main thing sex difference insects lies in the fact that the male is not only somewhat smaller in size, but also much weaker than the female and has longer antennae - antennae.
Flight characteristics
The praying mantis has two pairs of wings, which can have different colors and even contain similar patterns. True, the ability to fly is mainly male, because thanks to larger size and overweight females, this skill is given with difficulty.
There is also a variety of earth mantis ( lat. Geomantis larvoides) which completely lacks wings and, accordingly, any flight abilities.
Insect coloring
Praying mantises have excellent camouflage abilities, so depending on the habitat, the color of insects can vary and include yellow, pinkish, green and brown-gray shades.
organs of vision
The eyes of the praying mantis are convex and have a complex facet structure. They are located on the sides of the head, while the insect has three more (!) Simple eyes that are located above the base of the whiskers.
At the same time, the praying mantis is the only creature on the planet that can turn its head 360 °. Thanks to this property, the predator has an extensive view, which allows the insect to both easily detect prey and notice enemies in a timely manner, including those from behind.
In addition, the praying mantis has an ear, but only one, which does not prevent him from having excellent hearing.
body structure
Since the praying mantis is by nature a predator, it has especially well-developed forelimbs, consisting of trochanters, thighs, lower legs and legs. The swivel is one of the segments (usually the smallest) that is located between the coxa and the thigh.
On the thigh of the praying mantis there are clearly visible sharp spikes in three rows, and on the lower leg there is a sharp needle-shaped hook. This "weapon" helps the insect to firmly hold its prey.
Hunting objects
The praying mantis attacks small insects (flies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, bees), but is also able to grab prey that is much larger than its own size. Therefore more major representatives species can attack small rodents, frogs, lizards and even birds.
The attack of the praying mantis, as a rule, comes from an ambush, while he grabs the victim with lightning speed, no longer releases it from the tenacious forelimbs until he finishes the process of eating.
All types of praying mantises have an exceptional appetite, and their powerful jaws allow them to eat even very large insects and animals.
In case of danger, the praying mantis behaves very aggressively, trying to scare off the enemy. To this end, he most often assumes a vertical position, sticking out his prothorax, and then begins to move his jaws threateningly and make hissing sounds. At the same time, its wings open, the abdomen swells, thanks to which the praying mantis looks much larger than it actually is.
Most prominent representatives praying mantis family
1. or religious (lat. Mantis religiosa) has a greenish or brownish body color and reaches at the same time seven centimeters in length (the size of males, as a rule, is somewhat smaller and does not exceed six centimeters).
The wings of the praying mantis are well developed, so flying over a short distance is not a particular problem for him.
From their relatives this species it is distinguished by the presence of a black rounded spot on the inside of the coxae of the front pair of limbs.
Common praying mantis begin the mating process in late summer–early autumn, while the male is actively looking for a female and, having found her, fertilizes.
After mating, the female kills the male (males rarely manage to escape this sad fate), and then finds a secluded place where she lays about 100 embryos at a time, after which she dies. The eggs are in a special adhesive shell (ootheca), secreted by special glands of the female, which serves as a kind of protective capsule. Thanks to ootheca, eggs during the winter can withstand temperatures as low as-20°C.
With the onset of spring warmth, usually in May, insect larvae emerge from the embryos, which immediately begin to lead a predatory lifestyle.
They, like adults, hunt from ambush, hiding in the grass or disguising themselves on young shoots, taking on the color of the environment.
The larvae attack grasshoppers, butterflies, flies and other small insects, and in the absence or lack of a food supply, they can also eat their relatives.
2. Chinese praying mantis(lat. Tenodera sinensis), as the name implies, lives in China. It's pretty large variety predator, reaching 15 centimeters in length, and which, unlike its closest relatives, leads an active nocturnal lifestyle, hunting small insects.
The life cycle of the Chinese praying mantis is 5 to 6 months.
Young individuals are born wingless, their wings appear already in the last stages of molting.
3. Indian flower mantis(lat. Creobroter gemmatus) does not exceed 4 centimeters in length and is considered the smallest representative of the genusCreobroter. This species was described back in 1877 by entomologist Karl Stol (a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences).
The flower praying mantis lives in the humid forests of southern India, Vietnam, Laos and other Asian countries.
This insect has a more elongated body than its relatives, a greenish or creamy hue interspersed with white. On the front wings there is a spot similar to an eye, designed to scare away predators.
Due to their attractive coloration, in India, these praying mantises are kept as pets, placed in small insectariums, where coco flakes or peat are usually used as a substrate. Under such conditions, insects can live in captivity for about nine months.
AT wild nature flower praying mantis, as the name suggests, live on flowers, where they lie in wait various insects.
4. orchid mantis(lat. Hymenopus coronatus) due to its unusual and original appearance is considered one of the most attractive members of the family.
The insect lives in Malaysia and Thailand, among orchids and has a striking resemblance to these flowers.
Due to its unique shape and body coloring, this praying mantis is in high demand among lovers of exotic animals, despite the fact that the insect is rather vicious in nature.
The female orchid praying mantis, at 8 centimeters in length, is usually twice the size of the male.
The orchid praying mantis has wide, petal-like limbs, which allows insects to remain undetected and attack prey (moths, flies, bees, and dragonflies) attracted by the smell of orchids. At the same time, this species of predators is militant and can attack creatures that are twice the size of the praying mantis itself, for example, lizards and frogs.
Color at Hymenopus coronatus, as a rule, light, but can take on various shades depending on the color of the plants. The ability to mimicry is most clearly manifested in young individuals.
The female insect lays embryos (from two to five pieces) in white sacs and after five to six months, larvae hatch from them, painted in a rich bright scarlet color. Such a poisonous coloring scares off enemies. Over time, after several molts, the body of insects brightens.
Orchid mantises have the ability to jump and can move in dashes.
5. Eastern heterochaete or Thorn Eye(lat . Heterochaeta orientalis) lives in the east of the African continent.
Outwardly, the insect resembles a twig, so it is very difficult to notice it on a plant.
The mantis got its name for the presence of special jagged triangular outgrowths in the form of spikes, on which compound eyes are located. Such a device of the organs of vision allows the insect to fix objects in front, side and rear.
Notable is the insect's neck, which looks like a corrugation and allows the praying mantis to turn its head in different directions. Thanks to this ability, a predator can look behind itself, while remaining completely motionless.
Female heterochaetes are considered giants among relatives,- he and can grow up to 15 centimeters (while males rarely reach 12 centimeters in length).
Despite its rather unsightly appearance, the nature of the insect is docile, and in relation to relatives, these insects behave very peacefully and friendly. This variety of praying mantis can be kept in insectariums for several individuals at once, the main thing– provide them with an adequate food supply. And the female heterochaete eats her males much less frequently than other members of the family.
After fertilization, the female forms an ootheca with embryos in the form of a long woven thread that can reach 12 centimeters in length. One ootheca usually contains 60 to 70 eggs.
Born heterochaete larvae have quite big size and some reach a length of one and a half centimeters. At an air temperature of + 26 ° C, they develop for about five months.
The total life cycle of one insect is about 13 months.
· In the 1950s, an attempt was made in the USSR to use praying mantises as a biological agent to protect agricultural plants from harmful insects. Alas, this idea failed, because together with the pests, the praying mantis destroyed bees and other beneficial insects - pollinators.
· In Chinese martial arts, there is a special style of fighting called the "praying mantis style". By giving it invented by a peasant, for a long time observing the hunting of these predators.
· Despite the fact that praying mantises are excellent hunters, they themselves often become the victim of an attack. Their main enemies are birds, snakes and the bats. However, the greatest damage to the population of these insects is caused by their relatives, that is, other praying mantises.
Arthropod insects from the praying mantis order got their Russian name due to the fact that their forelimbs look like human hands, bent in the arms.
Being in ambush, they take a wait-and-see attitude. In the photo of praying mantises you can see this feature of behavior. A similar posture is associated with the position of the body of a person reading a prayer.
Description of insects
These arthropod insects have an elongated body with a triangular head that rotates around its axis. Praying mantises notice enemies ready to attack them from behind.
See what the praying mantis looks like, the photo shows the complex structure of the bulging eyes. They are located on the sides of the head, the insect also has 3 additional eyes.
Many segments form antennae. The mouth apparatus of the gnawing type is directed downward.
A feature is the pronotum, which expands upward. The trunk is 10 segments. On the latter is a pair of appendages that serve as organs of smell.
Most mantis species have wings and can fly. The anterior pair of wings, narrower than the posterior pair, is used as elytra.
The wider pair of wings at the back can be brightly colored and even patterned. In addition, there are praying mantises without wings, similar to larvae.
Insects have well developed forelimbs. The tarsi have 5 segments and 2 large claws. In addition to the paw, the lower leg, coxa, thigh, and trochanter stand out in the composition of the limb. The femur and lower leg have spikes.
In the process of eating, the praying mantis holds the victim between the lower leg and thigh. The other legs of the insect are distinguished by a typical structure for arthropods. The praying mantis breathes through the tracheal system.
The female praying mantis is larger than the male.
There are species that reach a length of 16-17 cm, but there are also varieties of no more than 5 mm.
The color of the body has a camouflage character. The color literally blends with the environment.
Some representatives of praying mantises resemble leaves, sticks or flowers, others are painted like tree bark, lichens or ashes that are carried by the wind after a fire.
In insects, the color can be different: green, brownish, yellow, and even contrasting. The color of the same individual may change after molting.
Enemies of arthropod insects
Praying mantises can become prey for snakes, chameleons, bats and birds. Having met with the enemy, the insect tries to scare the attacker.
The praying mantis takes a frightening pose and makes frightening sounds. But when the enemy is stronger, he flies away.
How long does a praying mantis live?
Each species has its own lifespan. It can vary between 2 - 11 months.
natural habitat
Praying mantises live in most Asian and European countries in the south and in the central part. Insects can be found in Africa, South and North America and also in Australia.
Praying mantises thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. Insects live in steppes, deserts and meadows. The only reason they leave their habitat is the lack of food.
Most species of praying mantis are active during the daytime.
What do praying mantises eat?
These arthropods are predators, so they mainly feed on other insects. Predators prey on flies, mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees, butterflies, beetles and cockroaches.
The largest representatives of this order attack small amphibians, birds and rodents.
How do praying mantises reproduce?
In insects, the transformation cycle is not complete. Praying mantises are characterized by sexual demorphism. Those who live in the tropics breed all year round. For inhabitants of temperate climate zone the breeding season begins with the onset of autumn.
Males are looking for females to mate with. They dance a ritual dance so that the partner does not see her food in them. For offspring to appear, the process of fertilization is required.
When a female praying mantis lays unfertilized eggs, they become nymphs.
Often, after fertilization, the male dies. His partner eats, thereby replenishing the supply of nutrients.
There are varieties in which the male praying mantis remains alive after fertilization.
The female lays her eggs in trees or tall grass. She has to squeeze them out of her ovipositor.
With the help of a sticky secret from special glands, it protects the fertilized eggs, which are in a kind of capsule. The female, depending on the variety, is able to lay 10-400 eggs.
Capsule or edema may be various shades from light yellow to grey. After laying eggs, the females soon die. Praying mantis larvae crawl out of eggs at various intervals - from 3 weeks to 6 months.
Mantis photo
Deroplatys desiccata camouflages itself beautifully as dead leaves, hence its name, "the big mantis of withered leaves". Lives in the tropics of Malaysia.
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii. This spiked pink praying mantis usually waits for its prey, merging with pink flowers. At the same time, the bright coloring serves as a warning to birds wishing to feast on it.
Heterochaeta Orientalis, African spike-eyed mantis. In color and body shape, it resembles a branch of a bush in which it lives and hunts. Unusual compound eyes equipped with "thorns" allow him to see prey even behind him.
Blepharopsis mendica, thistle mantis. Calm and non-aggressive, these praying mantises rarely engage in combat with someone larger than them. Just trying to scare the enemy, they take a threatening pose, spreading their wings and showing bright parts of the body.
Rhombodera basalis, Malaysian shield-bearing mantis. Another resident rainforest preferring warm and humid environments. Quite popular as a pet.
Idolomantis diabolica, which received the unusual name "damn flower". A large praying mantis pretending to be flowers and leaves, both fresh and wilted. Depending on the environment, it slightly changes color and shape.
Miomantis caffra, inhabitants of South Africa. Since 1978 they have been brought into New Zealand a boy from Auckland. The colony survived and the insects spread throughout the north of the country.
Choeradodis rhombicollis, the Perunian shield-bearing mantis. Like other representatives of its subfamily, it perfectly disguises itself as green foliage.
Pogonogaster tristani - rare view praying mantis, usually not visible to humans. Their body is covered with hairs and spines resembling moss to blend in with it while sitting in ambush.
Hymenopus coronatus, orchid mantis. It has a marvelous mother-of-pearl color, disguising it as a habitat - orchid flowers. Males of this species are almost half the size of females.
Introducing ten absolutely stunning species of praying mantis. Some acquired this appearance for the sake of camouflage, others to attract the opposite sex, and still others to scare off enemies. Another reason to make sure that nature is the greatest artist.
Paws folded as if in prayer, a pose full of humility and sorrow - in front of you is a praying mantis - one of the most unusual creatures on earth, which cannot be confused with someone else, but can be easily mistaken for a twig, leaf or blade of grass.
Common praying mantis: close-up photo.
Mantis on cucumbers. 
About 3 thousand now known species praying mantises belong to the largest order of mantises - arthropod insects with incomplete transformation. One of the most common species is the religious praying mantis (Mantis religiosa), a member of the true praying mantis family, named by Carl Linnaeus due to its characteristic prayer posture.
Having examined the praying mantis closer and recognizing him real character, it becomes clear that behind the deceptive humility lies a cunning, cruel and merciless predator, far from being a saint, but rather vicious.
Here is a photo of praying mantises different types from around the world:
Red praying mantis, photo taken on the island of Crete. 
Orchid praying mantis. Habitat - India and Indonesia. 
Orchid praying mantis in all its glory. 
Phyllocrania paradoxa praying mantis. Habitat - Madagascar. 
Mantis Devil's flower. Habitat - East Africa. 
Mantis Blepharopsis mendica. Habitat - North Africa, Asia Minor. 
Mantis, we find out the type of insect. 
What does a praying mantis look like?
Praying mantis - enough large predators, growing in length up to 15 cm, and females are much more massive and heavier than males. The long body of insects is equipped with well-developed fore and hind wings, which straighten out in a chic fan to intimidate enemies.
The front paws of praying mantises are folded in prayer only at rest, and their main purpose is to capture and hold prey, sometimes much larger than the praying mantis itself. Their thighs and lower legs are covered with rows of large and sharp spikes, to which the praying mantis presses the caught prey, and the hind limbs of insects are well adapted for walking.
Praying mantis on flowers. 
Praying mantis on a flower, photo No. 2. 
Praying mantises can engage in cannibalism. 
Mantis. The photo was taken in the Moscow region. Camera smartphone NOKIA LUMIA 1020. 
The most remarkable feature of praying mantises is their triangular head with huge eyes, so mobile that these insects are the only ones that can easily look behind themselves with one turn of their heads.
The oral apparatus of praying mantises is excellently developed, and powerful jaws do an excellent job of grinding large and tough prey.
The art of camouflage
Praying Mantises are known for being unsurpassed masters of camouflage, skillfully using camouflage coloration to blend in harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. For example, some African species of praying mantis turn black in order to successfully hunt on the site of conflagrations.
Most predators are painted in a rich, grassy green color, beige and brownish specimens are found, and only 5 Asian species from the family Metallyticidae are distinguished by a blue-green color with a metallic sheen.
Cunning insects can not only mimic the color of foliage, stones and trees, but also skillfully imitate leaves, shoots, grass stalks and even fruit seeds with the position of their body.
Where do praying mantises live?
Today, these insects are found in southern Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and are very numerous throughout their range. Praying mantises adapt well in different biotopes and, with an abundant food base, prefer a sedentary lifestyle.
Despite the frightening appearance, the praying mantis is highly valued by the farmers of all countries, they welcome and try to use it as an effective biological weapons for the control of insects - pests of agriculture.
In America and a number of Asian countries, they are kept as pets - exterminators of flies and mosquitoes, and lovers of exotic insects decorate their insectariums with them.
Common praying mantis (Mantis religiosa). 
Ordinary praying mantis, or religious praying mantis. 
Common praying mantis. 
Common praying mantis in the grass. 
Mantis, macro photography. 
Praying mantis on top of a rock, against the backdrop of the Black Sea coast. 
mantis hunting
Praying mantises spend most of their lives in their characteristic posture, waiting for prey, and thanks to their excellent eyesight, they target prey from afar and swiftly attack when prey is within reach.
Sometimes, young praying mantises feed on their weaker counterparts to survive. 
Praying mantises eat various insects, hunt small snakes, frogs and lizards, attack birds and rodents, practice cannibalism on occasion and will not refuse to feast on their own offspring.
These fearless and arrogant predators are not afraid to demonstrate their superiority by intimidatingly bulging their wings, throwing their long paws forward, raising their butt up and rushing into battle. If the potential victim is stronger, the praying mantis retreats and flies away.
Protective mantis stand. 
Protective mantis stand. 
Ordinary praying mantis, or religious praying mantis (lat. Mantis religiosa). 
According to legend, one of the most famous styles of Chinese wushu, tanglangquan or "praying mantis style", arose after a famous master observed the technique of duel between two insects, when a large cicada could not escape from the mantis's iron grip.
Reproduction and praying mantis dance
Praying mantises owe their fame in part to the original behavior of females, who eat males after or during mating. This feature is explained by the need of females for high doses of protein necessary for the development of eggs, so males have to go to various tricks to avoid death.
Praying mantis mating. Transcaucasian praying mantis (Hierodula transcaucasica). 
At the end of the last century, researchers studying the Chinese praying mantis noticed how males during courtship perform an eerie but effective dance in front of the female in an attempt to make them perceive themselves as a partner, and not as a food object. It is difficult to judge how much the dance really works, however, about half of the mating ends for the males quite safely.
The female lays from 10 to 400 eggs, which she determines in a capsule - ootheca, and hangs them on bushes, grass and tree branches. In the larval stage, the insect resembles a worm, and after hatching and shedding, it turns into a full-fledged praying mantis. Having been born, the offspring, for the purpose of self-preservation, tries to quickly hide from the mother's eyes.
The life of praying mantises is interesting and short, most individuals live 6 - 7 months, and only specimens wintering in the ootheca are able to live a year.
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