10 Mad Facts About the Praying Mantis

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Other TopTenz Videos:

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Coming up:

10. They Eat Birds
9. Some Look Like Flowers
8. Mate Eating
7. Death by Dead Leaf
6. They Grow to Insane Sizes
5. Their Vision is Unique & Superb
4. They are Related to Termites and Cockroaches
3. They Go Fishing
2. They Inspired Kung-Fu
1. They are Named after Prophets

Source/Further reading:

[tag]

True story: I had a roach problem. I introduced a mantis egg cask and in short order no more roaches just one king mantis that kept the insect problem under control.

[Dizzyruptor]

If these wonderful creatures were the same size as a human they might be the ones running this planet.

[Claytone-Records]

When I was a kid in the state of Maryland we would find very large praying mantises. One year I guess I would have been in 5th grade I found a strange brown cocoon took it to my school and put it in my desk and forgot about it went home for the weekend. When we came back Monday the janitor was in there with a broom and the room was filled with many, many praying mantises and everybody was very freaked out about it. What fun!

[weirdo-hio]

I have been raising these beautiful creatures in my flower garden for a couple of years. They are not afraid of humans, and love having their pictures taken. I keep the egg sac over the cold months, then put it under a large plant. The offspring will stay where they are born, and will select other plants to live in when there are several siblings in the garden. Please don't kill these insects, they are great for pest control and more interesting to look at than a computer screen.

[lucithesick]

I've always loved this species of insect.

[NefariousKoel]

Found one that was a foot long a decade ago, hanging out on the branch of a sapling near my dads rural front porch. Was shocked, having never seen one that size before.
Fortunately an old friend was with me, along with the old man. We gawked at it for quite awhile.
Likewise, as mantises always do, it gawked back at us. Always found it fascinating how they will always turn and stare straight in your eyes when you're looking at them.


Saw another one on the side of a curbside trashcan a few years, and quite a distance away in the city. That one was only around 6 or 7 inches long but still very large. Another staring contest.

[dafttool]

Imagine how large prehistoric mantis were.

[necko]

Praying mantis is a honey badger of the insect world...

[Victoria-dhvb]

Kind of weird/scary to think that if size were relative, the praying mantis and dragonflies would be apex predators....

[RaithGyaron]

Praying Mantis are my favorite insects. In fact, my favorite Pokémon is a five foot tall Mantis with scythes for arms.

[Russo-Delenda-Est]

The giant ones in in the Mojave are particularly impressive.

[HBreed]

Easily my favorite insect, would randomly catch them when stationed in Osan AB, Korea, and release at end of my shift. Oddly enough, all the ones I'd find on the flight-line were a pinkish brown like the front of our HASes, almost like camouflage.

[grapeshot]

I remember me and my brothers used to catch them we were kids. Some we caught we're quite large. Even seen a large one kill a very large spider. A live-action Kaiju movie.

[michaelbarnes]

When I was younger I found a mantis that was almost dead, I tried to kill it by twisting its head thinking I would kill it that way, boy was I wrong, I twisted it all the way around and it just looked at me like w.t.f are you doing, lesson learned.

[highlanderknight]

Love these guys! Saw one of these in the parking lot in a two minute 'battle' with a robin. The robin lost and retreated.

[alricaneshama]

I love Praying Mantis. They are just amazing. Like Dragonflies

[tracishea]

If one looks into the mantis, the mantis looks back.

[itsmeblank]

I love how you can't predict what the next top 10 list will about. Yesterday top ten dangerous hacker today top ten praying mantis facts

[allonsyhuntress]

My house gets covered with these guys in the spring and summer. I rescue them and my mother is scared to death of them. I love playing with them

[skyden]

Praying Mantids, like other predator insects such as the Ladybug, are historically revered throughout the world due to the fact that they are natural forms of pest control.