Mantodea
Sign in to saveMantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all mantodeans have forelegs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with forearms folded, resembling a praying posture, has led to the common name praying mant
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Mantodea is an order of insects containing over 2,400 species found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, characterized by their distinctive triangular heads, flexible necks, and enlarged front legs designed for catching prey. These insects are notable for their praying-like posture and are important members of their ecosystems, with the largest family group being the mantids (Mantidae).
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Polyneoptera
- Image
- Praying mantis india.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- P105
- order
Article
24 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy and evolution
- Phylogeny
- External
- Internal
- Fossil mantises
- Similar insects in the [[Neuroptera]]
- Biology
- Anatomy
- Vision
- Diet and hunting
- Antipredator adaptations
- Reproduction and life history
- Sexual cannibalism
- Relationship with humans
- In culture, literature and art
- Martial arts
- In mythology and religion
- As pets
- For pest control
- Robotics
- See also
- References
- External links
Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all mantodeans have forelegs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with forearms folded, resembling a praying posture, has led to the common name praying mantis.
The closest relatives of mantises are termites and cockroaches (Blattodea), which are all within the superorder Dictyoptera. Mantises are sometimes confused with stick insects (Phasmatodea), other elongated insects such as grasshoppers (Orthoptera), or other more distantly related insects with raptorial forelegs such as mantisflies (Mantispidae). Mantises are mostly ambush predators, but a few ground-dwelling species are found actively pursuing their prey. They normally live for about a year. In cooler climates, the adults lay eggs in autumn, then die. The eggs are protected by their hard capsules and hatch in the spring. Females sometimes practice sexual cannibalism, eating their mates after copulation.