The differences between the various species are well known. The sexual behavior of praying mantids in general is curious, so has received interest from scientists over the last century. ĭespite being an introduced species, it is the official state insect of Connecticut. In the last years, more reports have been made of the distribution of the animals in Northern Europe (Latvia, Estonia), as well. Two confirmed stable populations are in Germany: one in Rhineland-Palatinate and one in Baden-Württemberg. religiosa can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as North America, where it is considered introduced. This finding contradicts with Di Cesnola, who claims to have observed the animals within the same time and location (and therefore the same temperature). Without the change in temperature and only a change in the color of the background, no change in coloration occurred. Przibram also observed in 1907 that a change in temperature can trigger a change in coloration: animals that hatched in a cold environment turned green after moulting when heat and sunlight were provided. This indicates a camouflaging purpose of the coloration. When forced to change the location as to no longer match their coloration, almost all the ‘not matching’ animals were killed by predators such as birds. However, no generally accepted answer about reason, benefit, or mechanism of the coloration or the change of coloration has been found.ĭi Cesnola observed in 1904 that green mantids were found on fresh green grass, whereas brown individuals seemed to prefer brown grass burned by the sun. religiosa from different shades of yellow, brown, green, and sometimes black has been the cause of numerous hypotheses and studies for over 100 years. The great variation in the coloration of M. Therefore, the authors call it a ‘true ear’. Unlike other sound-processing organs found among different groups of insects, the metathoracic ear has a high sensitivity across high and low frequencies and even ultrasound. This “tympanal auditory organ” is an unpaired structure found on the ventral side of the animal on the metathorax between the third pair of legs. religiosa is its midline metathoracic ear (see Ultrasound avoidance). The black eyespots are also a distinct feature for species discrimination of the European mantis. It makes the animal appear much larger and more of a threat to the attacker. religiosa involves wing spreading and bending of the raptorial legs to reveal two matched black eyespots with a yellow or white center at the base of the coxae (legs). This behavior can be observed throughout different groups of animals and is used to scare or startle potential predators to give the attacked animals a chance to escape. Mantids show strong deimatic display from very early life stages on. Adult females are generally too large and heavy for their wings to enable a take-off. Males are often found to be more active and agile, whereas females are physically more powerful. These three dorsal ocelli are also more pronounced in males than in females. Along with the forward-directed, compound eyes, simple eyes also are found on the head. religiosa are usually larger and heavier than males (7–9 cm versus 6–7 cm), the antennae and the eyes of male animals outsize those of the females. Ĭopy of the original description of several species of mantis including Mantis religiosa, described by Carl Linnaeus as Gryllus (Mantis) religiosus in 1758. At a global level, it is assessed by the IUCN as least concern. It is not supposed to be caught or held as a pet. religiosa is listed as Gefährdet on the German Red List on the basis of an assessment from 1998. The most striking features that all Mantodea share are a very mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes and their first pair of legs (the ' raptorial legs'), which is highly modified for the efficient capture and restraint of fast-moving or flying prey.

Both males and females have elongated bodies with two pairs of wings. Their common name praying mantis is derived from the distinctive posture of the first pair of legs that can be observed in animals in repose. The European mantis ( Mantis religiosa) is a large hemimetabolic insect in the family of the Mantidae ('mantids'), which is the largest family of the order Mantodea (mantises).

A praying mantis