Rows of spines on mantis foreleg.

Elongate pronotum (upper thorax). (PhotoCourtesy of Kathy Keatley-Garvey).

Mantis feeding on a wasp. (Photo Courtesyof Kathy Keatley-Garvey).

Female mantis whipping secretions into afoamy pouch to receive her eggs.

Praying MantisesCrossword Puzzle Pre-Reading

BIOLOGY

Praying Mantises or Mantids are an order untothemselves (order Mantodea). Once believed to berelatives of grasshoppers they actually have more incommon with cockroaches (order Blattodea) andtermites (order Isoptera). Some entomologists put allthree together in the order Dictyoptera.

Mantids are predators of smaller arthropods (such asinsects and spiders) on plants. They lead a cryptic(hidden) life, blending into their surroundings usingsimilar colors, patterns and shapes (camouflage). Thosecommonly encountered tend to be introduced fromChina.

Females are larger than males. They are known to eatmale suitors.

DEVELOPMENT

Up to 200 eggs may be laid within a papier-mâché likeegg pouch (oothecae). Each youngling that hatches is asmall, wingless replica (nymph) of the adult. Very few of

the nymphs survive toadu lthood . Manybecome food for otherpredators, includingbirds, spiders, ants,and even other babymantids. Yes, mantidsare cannibalistic!

DESCRIPTIONMantids have long bodies. The abdomen and legs arelong. The elongate upper thorax (pronotum) is a

characteristic thathelps d ist inguishmantids from similarinsects. Mantids tendto look like the plantsthey live on - and mostoften are green orbrown in color.

Mantids are named fortheir forelegs (frontlegs), which are heldprayer-like. The forelegsare raptorial (made forseizing and holdingprey) and are lined withrows of tiny spines andend with a hook.

Mantids are amazing predators. They may be seen onplants, especially on flowers, intently stalking prey aslarge as bumblebees and large butterflies. Watching

them feed can befascinating, too. Theymake good pets, canbe raised on cricketsand will drink milk froma moistened Q-tip.California has sixnative species ofmantises. None arec o m m o n l yencountered.

BIBLIOGRAPHYCalifornia Insects. Powell, Jerry A. and Charles Hogue. University of California, Berkeley. 1979.Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity. Daly, Howell V., John T. Doyen, and Alexander H.Purcell, III. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. 1998.

Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California.

Praying MantisesCrossword Puzzle - Teacher’s Solution Sheet

ACROSS2. Life form that preys upon other life forms.4. Order to which mantids belong.8. Egg case formed by mantids.9. Immature stage of mantids.10. Order in which some scientists place

mantids, cockroaches and termites.12. Insects known for feeding on wood.13. Made for seizing and holding.

DOWN1. Adaptation which allows life forms to look

like their environment.2. Upper thorax.3. Describes life forms brought in by humans

for ecological purposes.5. A group of insects that mantids once were

considered related to.6. Describes a structure that is longer than it

is wide.7. Insects in the order Blattodea11. Hidden

Notes:

Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California

Praying MantisesCrossword Puzzle - Student Sheet

ACROSS2. Life form that preys upon other life forms.4. Order to which mantids belong.8. Egg case formed by mantids.9. Immature stage of mantids.10. Order in which some scientists place

mantids, cockroaches and termites.12. Insects known for feeding on wood.13. Made for seizing and holding.

DOWN1. Adaptation which allows life forms to look

like their environment.2. Upper thorax.3. Describes life forms brought in by humans

for ecological purposes.5. A group of insects that mantids once were

considered related to.6. Describes a structure that is longer than it

is wide.7. Insects in the order Blattodea11. Hidden

Teacher’s Comments / Grade:

Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California

Praying MantisesCurriculum Matrix

CONCEPT PROCESS / PERFORMANCE

KLiving things can be describedand distinguished from eachother.

Students will observe, compare,and describe animals.

1Living things have basic needsthat must be met in order tosustain life.

Students begin to observe avariety of ways that living thingshave their needs met.

2Life cycles include birth,growth, reproduction, anddeath.

Students observe, describe, andrecord changes in an organism’sdevelopment.

3Living things have systems tosustain life such as theskeletal, circulatory, andrespiratory systems.

Students will understand that ananimal has systems that sustainlife.

4The behavior of living things isrelated to their environment.

Students will observe, record,and describe interactions of livingthings with other living things.

5Living things depend on theirenvironment.

Students will observe anddescribe the habitats of livingorganisms.

Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California