Praying Mantis

Scientific Name: Mantodea

Order & Family: Order: Mantodea; Family: Mantidae

Size: Typically 2 to 6 inches in length, depending on the species.

Found in gardens, forests, grasslands, and tropical regions on plants and shrubs.

Carnivorous; feeds primarily on other insects, though larger species may occasionally hunt small vertebrates.

Ambush predators that stay stationary and camouflaged; known for their unique raptorial front legs and hemimetabolous life cycle.

Highly beneficial for biological pest control in gardens; generally harmless to humans, though they can deliver a non-toxic pinch if handled roughly.

Identified on: 5/6/2026