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The Praying Mantis is one of the most unique hunting insects in the world. Its camouflage tactics, speed, grace and poses make it a perfect symbol for one of the most powerful sects of Kung Fu.

The Mantis has short, broad wings. Its arm like legs have sharp hooks (which make it look like it is preying) to help kill its victims. The body is long and thin and held almost erect.

The Praying Mantis lives in the southern part of the United States. It stays mostly in warm climates and grows to about 2 to 3 inches in a lifetime.

The Praying Mantis hatches eggs differently than other insects. They make a sticky substance that helps attach the eggs to a stick or a twig. The Mantis then leaves the eggs attached all summer. When spring arrives the baby Mantises come out of their eggs.

The color of the Mantis changes based on where it is. This camouflage helps it to be stealth and catch its prey. It has a voracious appetite for other insects and bugs. This makes the Praying Mantis a great helper to have around the garden. The female will even eat the male Mantis sometimes.

While the Praying Mantis plays a very important part in nature’s insect control plan, don’t expect to achieve total pest control with the use of Praying Mantids (the scientific term) alone. Nevertheless, the Mantis is the only predator which feeds at night on moths (most moths are active only after darkness) and the only predator fast enough to catch mosquitoes and flies.

Since the Praying Mantis is such a large, unique looking hunter, it is very fun to watch. Just because they may look like tough warriors, don’t’ worry, they are pretty tame to humans. Check them out this summer next time you are in the garden and see if you can watch mother nature do her job in keeping the bug population under control.