Praying Mantis stuffed animals, facts and information can be found at Jeannie's Cottage.
Mantids belong to the order Mantodea. There are 11 species in North America and 1800 worldwide. They can be large at close to 6 inches long. The forelegs are held in a characteristic pose that gave them the name of praying mantis. A unique feature that only mantids possess is the ability to turn their head 180 degrees and look over their shoulder.
Mantids are predatory and are voracious eaters. Their strong jaws, spiked legs and general design enable them to catch a variety of prey, including many kinds of insects (including each other) as well as small frogs, lizards and even hummingbirds.
In the fall, females produce a large egg case (called ootheca) which is attached to a twig. The young emerge in spring and immediately begin feeding on small insects, including each other.
Praying Mantids are considered beneficial insects and are coveted by gardeners to keep harmful insects out of the garden.
The lifespan of a mantid is about 1 year. Some people keep them as pets.
The little plush toy mantid shown above is from Folkmanis.
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