The mantis is a type of insect and sometimes known as the “praying mantis” because its front legs can make it look as if it is praying. There are more than 2000 species and they are most closely related to cockroaches and termites. The behaviour of a mating mantis is well-known but might not be a natural behaviour (see below).
They are all predators, usually ambushing their prey, and have good binocolar vision and can move their head through wide angles. They use camoflage to avoid being eaten themselves.
They are well known for sexual canibalism with the female eating the male, but whether this is a common natural behaviour or just an unusual behaviour effected by captivity is not clear.
For more mantis facts, and a picture of a mating mantis, see Mantis in Wikipedia
Closeup of a Mantis, alien and strange, exotic and a capable predator
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Mantis on a thorn-bush in Africa, in “prayer” position, beautiful and exotic.
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Mantis head, alert eyes on a long thin neck, a beautifully alien creature.
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The mantis, a ferocious predator, stalking in Nebraska.
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