Discovery Tooth and Claw: Praying Mantises
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Jul 28, 2025 Join entomologist Julio Rivera, a specialist in praying mantises from the Université de Montréal, and Bianca Greyvenstein, a postdoctoral fellow at North-West University, as they unravel the mysteries of these incredible insects. Discover their astonishing predatory skills, including hunting prey much larger than themselves. Dive into their cultural significance and fascinating folklore from around the world. They also explore the mantises' crucial role in agriculture and their unique biomaterials that hold promise for future innovations.
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Distinctive Features of Mantises
- Praying mantises are recognized by their bulging eyes, triangular head, and raptorial front legs.
- Their front legs are adapted to grasp, trap, and impale prey efficiently.
Mantises' Unique Hunting Tactics
- Praying mantises are sit-and-wait predators that opportunistically hunt insects and sometimes larger prey.
- They exhibit unique hunting tactics including fishing and eating toxic prey by avoiding poisonous parts.
Specialized Mantises' Front Legs
- Mantises' raptorial front legs store energy to strike quickly and grasp prey with spines.
- Some South American species use sharp spines to impale small soft-bodied prey effectively.
