Praying Mantis in Resin

Praying mantises are ambush predators, waiting quietly for their prey to stray to near to strike. They eat primarily insects, but larger species will also eat small reptiles, fish, or birds. They are also known to engage in cannibalism – a baby mantis's first meal will often be a sibling. The female praying mantis is widely known for her practice of biting off the head of her male partner while they are mating. This act of cannibalism was once believed to be a regular occurrence, but it seems that it is much rarer among mantises in the wild than in captivity. There are over 2,000 species of mantis around the world. They prefer tropical and warmer climates, and can be found in Europe, South Africa, southern Asia, and across the Americas. Species of mantis range in size from a centimeter to 12 inches in length. Their green color and thin, elongated bodies help them to blend with vegetation in order to hide from both predators and prey. For this reason, grass dwellers are usually bright green while tree dwellers are a dull, spotted brown. This specimen is set in transparent lucite resin, making it a great decorative piece or educational display.