This is a predatory and gluttonous insect. Mantis have been known to mankind since ancient times.

What does a mantis eat?

Seeing the prey, the mantis quickly goes on the offensive, thanks to excellent vision, it does not remain hungry, moreover, this is the only insect whose head rotates one hundred eighty degrees. The diet of this predator is based on flies and other small insects.

However, thanks to the formidable weapon - front legs with razor-sharp spikes, powerful jaws and aggressive disposition, the mantis can attack a frog, a lizard, and even a small snake, despite the difference in weight categories, he emerges victorious in these terrible fights. Usually, after lunch, nothing remains of the prey. Evidence of predation and greed is that they attack toxic and toxic insects. For example, they do not need to deal with a poisonous spider such as a black widow, they can eat a toxic ladybug or formidable wasp alive.

Praying Mantis in Ancient Egypt

Even in ancient Egypt, this huge insect left its mark in the form of an image in the tomb of Ramses the second, which ruled Egypt three thousand years ago. Religious Egyptians even mummified them. These insects had the right to their sarcophagus and to the afterlife. In 1929, archaeologists uncovered such a sarcophagus, but the mantis of the mantis very quickly disintegrated and only photos remained of it. Some tribes in Africa still believe in the mantis god.The Chinese, observing the mantis, came up with the style of fighting wushu,

When did the praying mantis appear?

Mantis appeared many millions of years ago. Thanks to the amber with the frozen bodies of insects, it is clear that the praying mantises practically did not change their somewhat alien appearance over fifty million years.

Species of Mantis

There are more than two thousand species of mantis, one of the most interesting can be called "orchid", he lives and hunts in an orchid flower and even having a closer look it is difficult to distinguish where the flower ends and the insect begins, there is still a mantis "Devil's flower", "Devil's flower", "Prickly flower ”, Other species are disguised as fallen leaves, grass, tree branches - they are all unsurpassed masters of camouflage.

Are praying mantises dangerous to humans?

For man, praying mantises are not dangerous. Although, looking at the pose of a mantis, many do not even realize how terrible and merciless a predator it is. People use it in the fight against harmful insects, they are even kept in homes and gardens. And in Central Asia, mantises are kept to fight scorpions.

How do mantis be kept at home?

Keeping them in terrariums is quite troublesome. It is necessary to observe the temperature regime from 28 to 40 degrees, depending on the type of insect. It is also necessary to monitor the humidity. To make the mantis feel good, the terrarium must be equipped with snags and branches. You need to feed them only with live insects (they will not eat the dead) to catch food for them on the street is not worth it, it is better to buy at a pet store.Keeping two or more mantis in one terrarium is not recommended. Mantis, as a pet, will be very original to give to fans of unusual and extravagant.