Male praying mantis note to self: "fly away immediately after mating."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

"Praying Mantis, female (left) and male (right) © Scott T. Smith"

Praying Mantis
Mantis religiosa
European Mantid
2 1/2". Body elongated; head triangular; antennae thread-like. Male usu. brown; female green. 4 long thin legs grasp twigs; 2 forelegs held in "prayerful position" for quickly grasping insects. Wings long, extend beyond abdomen tip. Eyes large, brown, compound. Most flexible neck of any insect; able to look for prey or danger at most angles. Mouthparts strong; can tear apart hard exoskeleton of prey: flies, bees, wasps, butterflies, caterpillars. Female often eats male after mating; lays tannish egg masses up to 1 1/2" long. Introduced from Europe.

Habitat Brushy fields, gardens.

Season Aug.–Oct. Chinese Mantis (Tenodera aridifolia; 3 3/8") of s N. Eng. has green margin on brown wings.

Range Throughout region.

[Radical Activist]

1. Is that thought limited to that species?

I know a lot of men with that attitude. :)

[Paul Hood]

5. Good one. n/t

[Placebo]

2. the Praying Mantis is one of the most beautiful insects...

Photographic evidence:

[liontamer]

3. she only eats him if she's in captivity and starving

Sex isn't usually a death sentence for the males

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. My ex believed she was a preying mantis....

She left my head.

[nytemare]

6. The male praying mantis rolls over and falls asleep

he he.