Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis are an order of insects consisting of approximately 2,200 species worldwide inhabiting mostly tropical and temperate climates. Praying mantis get their name from their prayer like stance as they sit waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey items, the word mantis is Greek for "prophet" or "fortune teller". Praying Mantis are an exclusively predatory insect and will eat a wide variety of living insects. Some larger species of praying mantis have been know to catch small lizards, frogs, birds, snakes and even rodents, catching them in their powerful spiked front legs.

Praying mantis are expertly camouflaged with their natural environment, often resembling living or withered leaves, sticks  or tree bark, blades of grass, flowers and even stones. This not only helps hide them from other predators which will readily eat praying mantis, but also allows the praying mantis to blend in with the background and ambush its own prey.

To find out more information on how to care for praying mantis please read our praying mantis caresheets below.

Giant African mantis

Scientific Name:

Sphodromantis viridis

Giant African Mantis are one of the largest species of mantis available in the pet trade. They make excellent pets and are ferocious feeders, hunting down prey items which are often the same size as they are!