Mantis Hobbies,Habits,etc.

2006-09-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some questions and answers about Praying mantids I found on the internet.

Q : Is it against the law to kill a praying mantis in Ohio? What about a walking stick?

A : As far as I know, it is not illegal to kill praying mantids or walking sticks. They are not listed on the endangered species list. However, a state or local ordinance may make the illegal killing of mantids and walking sticks in your area. Even if it 's not illegal. it is a very bad idea to kill mantids since the praying mantis is a beneficial insect. They are used by many gardeners and greenhouse owners because they eat harmful insects.

Q : Why does the female praying mantis eat the male?

A : Most entomologists think it 's because that way she gets a big boost of nutrition so she has enough energy to produce her eggs. A small minority, of course, think she 's just plain mean!

Q : How does the praying mantis use the front part of its body to get bugs? Does it have sharp pointy teeth in this part or hairs?

A : The praying mantis uses its front legs to grab its prey in a lightning-fast pounce. Sharpe. pointy spikes (made of chitin) still hold the prey until the mantis can begin to munch. I 'm glad that mantids are so much smaller than us or I' d be scared to go outside!

Q : Why do praying mantids only feed on bugs that have already died?

A : I 'm afraid that this is not true. The praying mantis is very good at capturing live insects and
will eat them right there. while they are still alive! Spiders.
The site I found these on I was a Chinese site so I translated it using google. Here is a link to the site it has questions and answers about other bugs too.

Sniff

2006-09-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

I just learned that my mantis is might die soon, because she laid an egg case and somtimes they die after they lay egg cases.
This morning she ate a huge spider.

More about my praying mantis

2006-09-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up, made some chocolate milk (that part about the chocolate is very important), and went to check on my praying mantis and... she...LAID HER EGG-CASE!
I could not get a good picture of it but I found this one on the internet: Hers is about 1 1/4 in.
2 Days ago I found a male praying mantis. I put him in the cage with the girl praying mantis I found days ago. He got eaten. All that was left is his head and a front arm.
The night I went out to catch him I saw what I thought was a really weird praying mantis but I searched google and was found out it actually is not any kind of praying mantis. It is called a mantisfly. Here is a link to see a picture on one of my favorite bug websites called what's that bug.
While I was searching that mantisfly I found a interesting but sad story of a hummingbird getting eaten by a mantis!

My praying mantis

2006-08-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

Today my praying mantis ate 2 grasshoppers and might eat one more. I take her with me almost were ever I go. Did you know that instead of saying 'praying mantises' your suposed to say 'praying mantids'
I have another blog if you want to look at it here is a link.

About this blog

2006-08-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

This blog is about praying mantids. I have a female right now who will lay an egg-case soon. I know it is a female because I have found many praying mantids, and I love to study them, and one of the few things I have learned is that the females have wider back ends, another thing I have learned is to tell when they are 'pregnant' they are tremendously big.The two forward legs of the mantis have sharp spines like a to catch thier prey. Praying mantids can be 1/4" to almost a foot long. Here are some quick facts that I found:

There are about 1,700 varieties of praying mantis.
The mantis uses its two front legs to attack it's prey.
The mantis females are the among biggest insects.
The female mantis lays up to 300 eggs.
Most mantis live in warm climates.
The mantis will attack butterflies, bees, beetles, frogs, spiders, mice, lizards, and small birds.
The female sometimes eats the male after mating.
The female mantis can not fly due to all of the eggs in her abdomen.
When nymphs hunt they eat leafhoppers, aphids, and very small flies.
The mantis sheds its skin twelve times before it is full grown.
The female mantis lays her eggs in the fall.
The front legs of the nymph have claws for holding their prey.
Praying mantids bite the back of their victim's neck to paralyze it.

How is that for an interesting bug?