Page 10 - 2009 DT 7 issues

Bugzilla too close, it will snatch it with pincher- spring. These small mini-mantids will
like forelegs covered with overlapping dine on their siblings—if they can—
ize really does matter. Tiny spines. It will eat into its victim’s neck and on leafhoppers, aphids and other
bugs—thrips, mites, fleas, ants, first, quickly stopping any struggles. tiny bugs that roam their environment.
Saphids, springtails, etc.—make Although the praying mantis is As they grow and mature, they will
their living almost unseen in the litter a formidable predator, it is a favorite shed their “skin,” molting many times
of the forest floor or along the fringes prey of birds and bats. It must depend until they reach adulthood. Just as lady
of a pond. Though small and insignifi- upon its talent for spiders are known to
cant, life can still be a bit dangerous. c a m o u f l a g e t o do, an adult female
Beetles, water striders, dragon flies avoid being eaten. mantid will often
and a host of other larger denizens A mantid can adjust eat her mate just
keep a wary eye to their surround- its stick-like pale after, or even during,
ings, ready to scatter at the shadow of green or brown body mating. The male
a passing bird or a bigger bug. But if and long, slender mantids never seem
you’re the biggest bug on the block, limbs to simulate a to “get it,” however,
you pretty much rule. stem, a leaf or twig, because each season
Praying mantises (or mantids) blending in with the reproductive
are any insect’s worst nightmare. the surroundings, cycle begins anew.
Beetles, butterflies, crickets, moths, swaying to and fro as A p r a y i n g
grasshoppers, and even spiders, are not foliage in the wind. mantis can make an
safe when a mantis is lurking. There The large compound interesting garden
are about 2,000 species of mantids eyes of the mantis, pet. It cannot bite
in sizes from big to bigger. Ranging one on each side of humans, but its
from about 2.5 inches to 4 inches or its head, afford a spiny forelegs can
more in length, they inhabit garden wide angle of vision. pinch when handled.
and forest alike, from the tropics It is the only insect Unlike the cockroach
and warm temperate areas—North that can turn its to which it is closely
related, mantids are
triangular-shaped
and South America, South Africa, head a full 180 degrees. Its vision is interesting and imposing creatures
Europe—to southern Asia and parts so sharp that it can sense the slightest with the power to inspire awe.
of Australia. In the eastern U.S., three movement up to 60 feet away. Mantids It has been recently discovered that
main types are common: The European are the only predators which can some species of mantis have a hollow
mantid (Mantid religiosa), Carolina feed at night, on moths active after chamber in their bodies which enables
mantid (Stagmomantis Carolina) dark, and move fast enough to catch them to “hear” certain frequencies,
and the Chinese mantid (Tenodera mosquitoes and flies. Although they such as those emitted by bats. When
aridifolia sinensis). are most often ambush predators, they it hears bat sounds, it can hurl itself to
The praying mantis, so named have been known to stalk their prey, the ground in a spiral pattern to avoid
for the position of its forearms which as well. being targeted.
are arranged as if in prayer, is a Praying mantises have long been That the praying mantis is
carnivorous predator that has little to a favorite with gardeners because they associated with various myths and
fear in its own world. It routinely dines are great exterminators of other pests. lore is not surprising. In some cultures,
not just upon other insects, but small They breed in summer in temperate it is considered holy. It is believed by
tree frogs, lizards, mice and other areas, laying groups of 12-400 eggs others that if you are lost and you come
mantids, too. It has been seen to attack, in autumn. The frothy liquid holding across a mantis, you should follow in
kill and eat even hummingbirds and the eggs hardens into a protective shell the direction that it’s facing, because
small nesting birds. If its prey comes from which the nymphs emerge in it will lead you home.
Page 2 FORRC/February/2009