Masters of Patience and Stillness: The Praying Mantis by john dao

Praying Mantis Life Cycle

johndao0601 — 2024-10-22 19:44:51 UTC

The praying mantis life cycle begins with the female depositing her eggs in a frothy substance that hardens into a protective structure called an ootheca. One ootheca can contain 100-400 eggs. They hatch in the spring into nymphs that look like mini adults. They will cannibalize each other if food is scarce. They will also eat each other if they are overcrowding. They go through series of molts and become adults. The adult phase typically lasts until late summer or early fall, after which most mantises die off as temperatures drop.

Order: Mantodea

Ecological Roles Of Praying Mantis (How they are beneficial with a slight downside.)

johndao0601 — 2024-10-22 20:00:24 UTC

They are beneficial insect towards plants. They are carnivorous will eat pests and other beneficial insects. They can increase plant health by keeping the population of pests down. They virtually eat all types of beneficial and pests insects. This could potential decrease the number of pollinators which isn't good. Even though praying mantis are widely considered to be unharmful to plants, they can potentially indirectly harm them if their numbers get too large and start eating pollinators. You have to find a good balance of them and keep an eye on their population.

Praying Mantis's Hunting Methods And Where They hunt.

johndao0601 — 2024-10-22 20:14:54 UTC

They are the masters of patience and stillness because of their ambush hunting strategy. They prefer green colored plants as they can blend in. They love plants that have a high number of pests as they can just sit in one spot all stay and eat. They camouflage on green leaves and petals and stay completely still until an insect comes along and they strike. They use their modified legs are used for striking and hooking their prey, making them unable to escape. After they have their prey in a lock, they would eat their heads first. They can be completely still on your plants all day and can eat up to 6 or more insects per day, depending on their size. As long as you keep an eye on them, they will protect your plants from pests that wander into their striking distance.

5 Facts About Praying Mantis

johndao0601 — 2024-10-22 20:39:14 UTC

The video contains way more than 5 facts but I have picked out the most unique facts below :)

They get their name from their front legs. They looks like they are praying most of the time. They can stand on their hind legs as an imitating tactic and their front legs are in a praying position.

Praying mantises are the only insects with stereo-vision. This means they can basically see in 3 dimensions. It helps them judge the distance from their prey so they can effectively and accurately strike them.

The praying mantis has a weak sense of hearing. This is surprising as they are such a formidable foe in the insect world, with excellent sight, and attack, that them having bad hearing is surprising. Their eyesight and hunting strategy more than makes up for this but it's still interesting.

Some praying mantises can fly. When you think of praying mantis, I bet you didn't think they can fly. Some adults have developed wings and can fly from plant to plant.

Praying mantis can prey on birds. Certain birds like humming birds that come close to plants gets strike in the head by the praying mantis and gets its head eaten first. Their modified front legs have exceptional strength and can take down a creature like a bird that is much bigger than them.

Ninjas Of The Insect World: The Praying Mantis QUIZ

johndao0601 — 2024-10-24 20:03:05 UTC

https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/671a7adcdcb8752b396dcd98

QUIZ yourself and see if you have learned about the masters of stillness in the insect world. Their exceptional hunting and attack skills will efficiently send their preys to their grave. Plants will thank them for being a beneficial insect. Take this quiz and lets see if you know these little insect masters well!