The praying mantis is a member of the Mantid group of insects. Mantids come in many shapes and sizes and are found all over the world. Some have patterns on their bodies that help them look like the ground. Some are bright green to blend in with leaves and plants. One special mantis is bright pink and looks like an orchid. The mantis is such a strange and engaging creature that many people keep them as pets. For many reasons, mantids have fascinated humans for many years. First, mantids show an amazing mastery of hunting skills. Mantids eat a wide variety of insects, including moths, crickets, bees, flies, grasshoppers, other mantids, and even, on occasion, small birds and snakes. They can capture prey many times larger than they are. Their powerful armor and amazing hunting skills make them quite effective. They have large powerful front legs, with spikes that help them hold onto prey. Their head can turn almost entirely around to follow prey without moving. Their front legs are so powerful and so fast that it is hard to see them move when capturing prey. One second their legs are empty and the next they are clutching tightly to something they have caught.

Mantids are also stealthy. They wait, very still, very patiently for prey to come into sight. They also make slight swaying movements, to mimic leaves and grass moved by the wind. They focus intently on their victim. Then they pounce, suddenly, rarely missing their target. They are so successful they can triple in size every few months by molting when they outgrow their exoskeletons. They start out as nymphs, able to capture only prey that is smaller than they are. They end their lives about a year later becoming predators that can take down prey as large as hummingbirds.

Finally, they are very personable, as far as insects go. They have a large, triangular-shaped head with large eyes. This alien-like appearance makes them quite cute. When you come across them in the garden, you can tell right away they are aware of you. They follow your movements as if to assess if you are either something to eat or something that will eat them. The little ones will accept rides on your finger if you are gentle. But be careful—they can jump surprisingly far even when small. If they think your freckle is prey, you may be surprised to find a mantis on your nose.

As far as predatory insects go, the mantis is one of the most impressive. Gardeners love to find them in on vegetables because mantids eat many insects that damage crops. However, they may also eat some insects that help a gardener—like bees. Regardless, the mantis is a fascinating insect, and if you happen to see one hunting in the wild, consider yourself lucky.

What quality makes mantids valuable to gardeners?

The ability to eat a variety of insects
The ability to be stealthy when hunting
The quality of appearance and awareness
The quality of their rapid growth