Praying mantids, fascinating insects named for their prayer-like stance, are formidable predators in the insect world. With their triangular heads, exceptional camouflage, and lightning-fast reflexes, they are captivating creatures to observe. This article delves into the dietary habits of praying mantids, exploring what they eat in the wild and as pets, and even what baby mantids consume.
What is a Praying Mantis?
The term "praying mantis" often refers to any mantid, but Mantis is actually a specific genus within the larger mantid family (Mantidae). These insects are characterized by their elongated thorax, which acts like a neck, allowing their triangular head to swivel almost 180 degrees, providing them with an exceptional range of vision. This ability, combined with their two large compound eyes and three simple eyes, makes them adept hunters.
With around 1,800 species found worldwide, most mantids inhabit tropical and temperate regions. Their colors often blend seamlessly with their environment, providing excellent camouflage. Some species even mimic leaves or branches, further enhancing their ability to ambush prey.
Praying Mantis Diet: Carnivorous Nature
Praying mantids are carnivores, meaning their diet primarily consists of other animals. They predominantly feed on arthropods, but their opportunistic nature leads them to consume a wide variety of prey. While they generally target creatures smaller than themselves, larger mantis species are known to take down prey larger than themselves.
Common Prey of Praying Mantids:
Insects: The bulk of a mantis's diet consists of insects. This includes moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, spiders, and beetles. Smaller mantids and young nymphs often target aphids, leafhoppers, mosquitoes, and caterpillars.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Other invertebrates: Praying mantises will also consume worms, grubs, and insect larvae.
Small vertebrates: Larger mantis species are capable of preying on small frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, small birds, and even fish.
Hunting Strategies: Ambush and Speed
Praying mantises are masters of ambush predation. They patiently wait, camouflaged among plants, with their front legs raised in a characteristic "praying" posture. This stance helps them blend in with their surroundings, deceiving potential prey. Their binocular 3D vision allows them to accurately judge distances, and when an unsuspecting victim ventures close enough, the mantis strikes with incredible speed.
Their front legs are equipped with sharp spines that help them snare and hold their prey. The grasping response of the mantis is so rapid that it is often difficult to see with the naked eye. Once captured, the mantis begins to devour its prey alive, using its chewing mouthparts.
Some mantis species employ different hunting tactics. Ground mantises, for example, may actively chase down their prey.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Cannibalistic Tendencies
Praying mantises are also known to eat others of their kind, a behavior known as cannibalism. This is most famously observed in adult females, who sometimes consume their mates during or after mating. While the exact reasons for this behavior are debated, it's believed to provide the female with additional nutrients to support egg production.
Diet in Captivity: Caring for a Pet Praying Mantis
Praying mantises have gained popularity as pets due to their relatively long lifespans and intriguing behaviors. When keeping a mantis as a pet, it's essential to provide a balanced diet that mimics their natural feeding habits.
Feeding Live Prey:
Mantises generally prefer to eat live prey, so live insects should make up the majority of their diet. Crickets and grasshoppers are commonly offered, but the size of the prey should be appropriate for the size of the mantis. Smaller mantises and young nymphs can be fed aphids, fruit flies, and other tiny insects. Larger mantises can consume cockroaches, beetles, and flies.
It is best practice to remove any uneaten live food from the mantis's enclosure after an hour to prevent the prey from stressing or harming the mantis.
Hydration:
Mantids in captivity need additional water. Gently mist the container every week depending on the humidity. The mantid will gather the water off the sides of the jar and its body. Gently place a small wet sponge inside the container every week.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Foods to Avoid:
While some people feed their pet mantises raw meat, this is not recommended. Processed foods containing preservatives or additives should also be avoided.
What Do Baby Praying Mantises Eat?
Baby praying mantises, also known as nymphs, are miniature versions of the adults and are capable of hunting for food as soon as they hatch. They typically prey on small insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and fruit flies. Nymphs will eat just about anything they can catch, including other mantises. On average, a baby mantis will eat around once every 3 to 4 days. As they grow older, they will be able to accommodate larger food.
Raising Young
Some adult female mantids will lay egg cases in the container. Continue to care for the female as described. She may lay additional egg cases. After a period of time (varies with species and season) the immature mantids will emerge from the egg case. They will eat each other if additional prey is not provided. Small fruit flies are ideal for small mantids. You can also remove the mantids and set them up in other containers. Best results will be achieved by attaching the egg cases to a twig or a plant using a twistum or wire tie, wrap around the egg case and tie it to a branch in warm location, filtered sunlight. A hanging, swinging egg case is safer from birds and other predators.