Life Cycle:

Mantids go through various stages as they become older. They go through what is known as partial metamorphosis, which means that they do not start as larvae like some other insects. They start as hatchlings which are tiny versions of adult Mantids. Until they reach adulthood, they are called nymphs. Unlike humans, Mantids along with other insects do not have an internal skeleton. Instead they have a hard external skeleton called an Exoskeleton. This means that as they grow, the skin will get tighter and tighter until it is finally shed (Ecdysis). As they age, they will shed their Exoskeleton several times throughout their life until they reach adulthood. The Mantid’s skin sometimes darkens over time until it sheds its skin. After it has moulted, its new skin will be brighter in appearance and their overall body size will increase dramatically. The Mantis will not eat for a while before it sheds its skin so don’t get worried if it loses its appetite. It also might not eat for a couple of days after the process either. When the Mantis has reached adulthood it will no longer need to shed its skin. The Mantis should have its wings after it has moulted for the final time.

The Mantid should not be disturbed in any way during moulting, as it is the only time when it is defenceless. All live food should be removed from its enclosure as it could attack the Mantis.

Basic Anatomy

Like other insects the Mantis has a Head, Thorax and Abdomen. The head is generally triangular in shape. It contains two compound eyes to detect motion and distance and three simple eyes in a triangular formation called Ocelli to detect light. Mantids can estimate the distance of its prey by swaying back and forth to see how far it is relative to the background. It can then make the necessary adjustments to capture its prey. The Mantis has an excellent field of vision and is the only insect to have a three dimensional, stereoscopic view like humans. The head also contains the Antennae, these are used to detect changes in its surroundings and to receive chemical messages used in mating. The Thorax is separated into three parts called the Prothorax, Mesothorax and Metathorax. The Prothorax contains the Prothoracic legs, which the Mantis uses to catch its prey. The Prothorax varies in shape and size in different species. Some Mantids such as the Dead leaf Mantis have a large leaf like structured Prothorax for camouflage. The Mesothorax contains the second pair of legs and the Tegmina. The Metathorax contains the flying wings and the final pair of legs concealing an ultrasonic ear between them. The ultrasonic ear is tuned to the frequency that a bat emits when it is flying. If the Mantis is in flight and it hears the bats ultrasonic radar it will spiral down to the ground at the last moment to avoid being eaten. The abdomen contains the respiratory system, the digestive system and the reproductive organs.