I will say right away that I personally have never been lucky enough to see a praying mantis in the Tambov region. All my encounters with this insect took place either in Voronezh region, either in Krasnodar region. What do they write on the Internet about the distribution area of the common mantis?
Wikipedia says that the praying mantis is found throughout Central and Southern Europe south of the 55th parallel, i.e. somewhere in the Vladimir region. However, another source (reptiliy.net) says that along northern border The mantis is rare in its range; in particular, even in the regions of Kyiv and Kharkov, the authors observed it 1-4 times a year.
I believe that this data is already outdated; the distribution area of the common mantis is shifting to the north. In particular, the Voronezh region, where the praying mantis is not at all uncommon, is located north of these cities. However, perhaps the praying mantises simply do not like Ukraine?
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Mantis: classification
According to Wikipedia:
- Type: Arthropods
- Class: Insects
- Squad: Cockroaches
- Suborder: Praying Mantis
- Family: Real praying mantises
- Subfamily: Mantinae
- Tribe: Mantini
- Genus: Mantises
- View: Common praying mantis(Mantisreligiosa)
Common praying mantis: photo and description
In my opinion, the above photos give a fairly clear idea of the appearance of the praying mantis. Green mantis was photographed in the Voronezh region in Divnogorye, yellow ones - on the Taman Peninsula. Most likely, they are all common praying mantises, just with different colors.
home distinctive feature praying mantis: well-developed grasping front legs. In general, their size and spikes eloquently tell us that if such a one has grabbed someone of comparable size, then there is no chance of freeing himself.
The praying mantis is one of the few insects that can turn its head and even look behind its back. And, by the way, pay attention, he has some surprisingly meaningful eyes (at least for an insect).
Lifestyle of the common mantis
The praying mantis tends to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Given sufficient nutrition, it can spend its entire life on one plant and even on one branch. If necessary, mantises can fly, but they are not very flyers, especially females.
Most of the time, the praying mantis “sits” in ambush: it stands motionless, pretending to be a twig and waiting for a suitable victim to be within reach of its outstretched claw. Moreover, even very large insects, in some cases, exceeding it in size.
Sexual behavior and reproduction of mantises
Mantises (or rather their females), along with some spiders, are feminist darlings. The idea of biting off a male's head during copulation seems to be incredibly exciting to many. This is much more interesting than carefully entwining a dear friend with a web and quietly sucking him out, as some females do Homo Sapiens.
I'll be a little disappointed. According to information from reptiliy.net, eating the male is not an indispensable attribute of a romantic meeting between a pair of mantises. If everything goes well: the female is well-fed and the male is careful, then he has every chance of leaving alive.
Wikipedia tells us on behalf of some scientists that according to physiological reasons sperm cannot be released from a male praying mantis while he has a head (no, how similar it is to a person, just think!). Therefore, in fact, mating does not end, but begins with biting off the head. I am inclined to consider this statement either a canard or applicable only to certain species of mantises (and their diversity is very large).
The female lays eggs in a form called ootheca(emphasis on the “e”). This is a method of oviposition practiced by many cockroaches, in which the laid eggs are glued together into a single mass by a protein congealing substance secreted by the female. The result is a dense container that can survive a variety of external shocks. Similar ootheca can often be seen in female cockroaches.
The female praying mantis attaches the ootheca to the stems of plants.
Praying mantises, common in places where there is winter, to initiate the egg pecking process they need to be cooled(winter diapause). In this regard, in order to force the little praying men to hatch, the ootheca must be placed in the refrigerator for some time.
Mantis and man
For man and Agriculture mantis harmless.
Attempts have been made to use mantises as a biological method of pest control, however, although the mantises were successful in this task, they also ate everyone they could get their hands on, without questioning which of them were useful and which were harmful.
Mantis is a rather interesting pet that can be kept in a terrarium without any problems. The lifespan of the common mantis is about two months. With proper feeding, this period can be doubled.
Common praying mantis: video
And in conclusion, a short video about the praying mantis, filmed in the Krasnodar region:
Arthropod insects from the order Praying Mantises got their Russian name due to the fact that their forelimbs are similar to human arms, bent in the hands.
While in ambush, they take a wait-and-see attitude. In the photo of praying mantises you can see this behavioral feature. This posture is associated with the position of the body of a person reading a prayer.
Description of insects
These arthropod insects– owners of an elongated body with a triangular-shaped head that rotates around its axis. Mantises notice enemies ready to attack them from behind.
Look what a praying mantis looks like, the photo shows the complex structure of its bulging eyes. They are located on the sides of the head; the insect also has 3 additional eyes.
Many segments form antennae. Oral apparatus the gnawing type is directed downwards.
A special feature is the pronotum, which expands upward. The body consists of 10 segments. On the latter there is a pair of appendages that serve as olfactory organs.
Most varieties of mantises have wings and can fly. The front pair of wings, narrower than the rear, are used as elytra.
The wider pair of wings at the rear may be brightly colored and even patterned. In addition, there are praying mantises without wings, similar to larvae.
Insects have well-developed forelimbs. The tarsi have 5 segments and 2 large claws. In addition to the tarsus, the limb includes the tibia, coxa, femur, and trochanter. The femur and tibia have spines.
During the eating process, the mantis holds the victim between the lower leg and thigh. The other legs of the insect have a typical structure for arthropods. The praying mantis breathes through the tracheal system.
The female praying mantis is larger in size than the male.
There are species that reach 16-17 cm in length, but there are also varieties no more than 5 mm.
The coloring of the body has a camouflage character. The color literally blends with the environment.
Some representatives of praying mantises resemble leaves, sticks or flowers, others are colored to resemble tree bark, lichens or ashes that are carried by the wind after a fire.
Insects can have different colors: green, brownish, yellow and even contrasting. The color of the same individual may change after molting.
Enemies of arthropod insects
Praying mantises can become prey for snakes, chameleons, bats and birds. Having encountered an enemy, the insect tries to scare the attacker.
The praying mantis adopts a terrifying pose and makes terrifying sounds. But when the enemy turns out to be stronger, he flies away.
How long does a praying mantis live?
Each species has its own life expectancy. It can vary from 2 to 11 months.
Natural habitat
Praying mantises are found in most Asian and European countries in the south and central parts. Insects can be found in Africa, South and North America, as well as in Australia.
Praying mantises feel great in tropical and subtropical climate. Insects live in steppes, deserts and meadows. The only reason The reason they leave their habitat is a lack of food.
Most species of mantises are active during the daytime.
What do praying mantises eat?
These arthropods are predators, so they mainly feed on other insects. Predators hunt flies, mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees, butterflies, beetles and cockroaches.
The most big representatives This order attacks small amphibians, birds and rodents.
How do praying mantises reproduce?
In insects, the transformation cycle is not complete. Mantises are characterized by sexual demorphism. Those who live in the tropics reproduce all year round. For inhabitants of temperate climate zone The breeding season begins with the onset of autumn.
Males look for females to mate with. They dance a ritual dance so that their partner does not see them as her food. In order for offspring to appear, the process of fertilization is required.
When a female praying mantis lays unfertilized eggs, they become nymphs.
Often the male dies after fertilization. The partner eats it, thereby replenishing its supply of nutrients.
There are varieties in which the male praying mantis remains alive after fertilization.
The female lays eggs on trees or tall grass. She has to squeeze them out of her ovipositor.
With the help of a sticky secretion from special glands, it protects the fertilized eggs, which end up in a kind of capsule. The female, depending on the variety, can lay 10-400 eggs.
The capsule or edema can be of various shades from light yellow to gray. After laying eggs, the females soon die. Praying mantis larvae hatch from eggs at varying intervals - from 3 weeks to 6 months.
Photo of a praying mantis
Mantises are large predatory insects with an elongated body, a triangular head, and forelimbs designed for grasping and holding prey. They resemble sinister space aliens, although they are ordinary natives of planet Earth. The question of what a praying mantis looks like is becoming less and less relevant. In order to go catching a specimen for your entomological collection, this knowledge will soon no longer be required. The common praying mantis is growing in Russia rare species due to the plowing of the steppes, which are its main habitat. It is listed in the Red Book of some Russian regions.
Are praying mantises found in Russia?
The most common insect species in Europe is the "common mantis". This species is also found in Russia, because borders do not matter for the distribution of insects. Going for a walk in the steppe areas there is a chance to spot one of its species. However, civilization is increasingly disrupting the habitual way of life of these insects. It is possible to see a praying mantis even on the asphalt in the middle of the city or on your own windowsill. Of course, the further north you go, the less likely it is to encounter such an insect, since it thrives only in arid, hot climates.
Where do praying mantises live in Russia?
The praying mantis lives in the southern part middle zone Russia. It can be seen in Crimea and the Caucasus. The praying mantis settles both in steppe grass and on tree branches. If there is enough food around, it can stay in one place throughout its life. The praying mantis lives everywhere in Russia, except that you rarely see it in northern regions. There are only rare individuals. What types of insects are known and what areas are their predominant habitat:
Due to the large size of the insect, the praying mantis is easy to catch. He will stop with an object creative tasks in biology for Russian schoolchildren. The insect is kept in a jar with ventilation holes in the lid. They feed them flies and larvae. The food must be alive: the insect is used to hunting and will not eat carrion. It is better not to put praying mantises in one container: the stronger individual will destroy the weaker one in the struggle for living space. Thus, every inquisitive schoolchild knows whether various praying mantises are found in Russia.
Despite the fact that mantises are accustomed to living in trees or among steppe grass, some species are able to adapt to new urban living conditions. After all, without the ability to adapt to changes, an insect will not be able to continue its species, and who knows, perhaps in the near future, the praying mantis will become as common a creature as a fly for residents of megacities.
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29.10.2018
This insect is perhaps the most amazing representative of the arthropod order. Currently, entomologists have identified about 2000 species of mantises that live in different regions of our planet.
Common or religious mantis (lat.Mantis religiosa) inhabits most countries of the European continent (from Portugal to Ukraine), is found in Asian countries, in the Mediterranean countries, on the islands of the Aegean Sea, Cyprus, in Africa and, according to some conflicting evidence, was discovered in Jamaica and Australia.
This insect is absent only in northern latitudes, but can inhabit steppe regions, rainforests and even rocky deserts ( optimal temperature environment for the praying mantis it ranges from +23 to +30°C).
In the forties of the last century, this predator was brought to New Guinea and the United States to combat agricultural pests, although not all of the population successfully acclimatized to the new conditions.
« Mantis religiosa” literally translated as “religious priest”. This strange name The mantis was given the name by the Swedish naturalist Karl Liney. Back in 1758, the famous naturalist drew attention to the habits of the insect and noticed that this predator, being in ambush and lying in wait for its prey, is very reminiscent of a praying man, slavishly bowing his head and folding his arms on his chest. So unusual behavior praying mantis and inspired the scientist to assign such an unusual name to the object of study.
Along with the academic name, the praying mantis also has less euphonious names, for example, “Devil’s Horse” or simply “Death” (as insects are called in Spain), which, of course, is associated with its shocking habits and way of life. In this case we're talking about about the notorious behavior of a female in relation to a male, who, after the mating process, kills her “betrothed” by biting off his head and then completely eating him.
Entomological scientists explain this unusual behavior of the female by renewing protein reserves, which she so needs to produce future offspring.
There are also varieties of praying mantis called “Devil’s Flower”, “Devil’s Flower”, “Spiky Flower” and others. All this indicates that mantises are great masters in terms of camouflage and mimicry.
IN ancient China Since ancient times, praying mantises have been considered a symbol of greed and stubbornness, and the ancient Greeks used them to predict what spring would be like.
As a rule, these insects lead a sedentary lifestyle and rarely leave familiar places a habitat. The only thing that can motivate them to travel is the complete lack of food supply.
Insect size
An adult mantis usually reaches a length of 50 to 75 millimeters, although withThere is also a species of insects ( lat . Ischnomantis gigas), some representatives of which can reach 17 (!) centimeters in length. The giant branch mantis also grows slightly smaller (up to 16 centimeters) ( lat . Heterochaeta orientalis).
Main sexual difference insects is that the male is not only somewhat smaller in size, but also much weaker than the female and has longer whiskers - antennae.
Flight characteristics
The praying mantis has two pairs of wings, which can have different colors and even contain similar patterns. True, it is mainly males who have the ability to fly, because thanks to larger size and overweight females find this skill difficult.
There is also a species of ground mantis ( lat. Geomantis larvoides) which completely lacks wings and, accordingly, any flight abilities.
Insect coloring
Praying mantises have excellent camouflage abilities, so depending on the habitat, the color of insects can vary and include yellow, pinkish, green and brown-gray shades.
Organs of vision
The eyes of the praying mantis are convex and have a complex facet structure. They are located on the sides of the head, while the insect has three more (!) simple eyes, which are located above the base of the mustache.
Moreover, the praying mantis is the only creature on the planet that can turn its head 360°. Thanks to this property, the predator has an extensive overview, allowing the insect to both easily detect prey and timely notice enemies, including those from behind.
In addition, the praying mantis has an ear, although only one, which does not prevent it from having excellent hearing.
Body structure
Since the praying mantis is a predator by nature, it has especially well-developed forelimbs, consisting of trochanters, femur, tibia and tarsus. The trochanter is one of the segments (usually the smallest) that is located between the coxa and the thigh.
On the praying mantis' thigh there are clearly visible sharp spines in three rows, and on the lower leg there is a sharp needle-shaped hook. This “weapon” helps the insect firmly hold its prey.
Hunting objects
The praying mantis attacks small insects (flies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, bees), but is also capable of grabbing prey that is significantly larger than its own size. Therefore, larger representatives of the species can attack small rodents, frogs, lizards and even birds.
The attack of the praying mantis, as a rule, occurs from an ambush, while it grabs the victim with lightning speed and does not release it from its tenacious forelimbs until it finishes the process of eating.
All species of mantises have exceptional appetites, and their powerful jaws, allow you to eat even very large insects and animals.
In case of danger, the mantis behaves very aggressively, trying to scare away the enemy. For this purpose, it most often assumes a vertical position, protruding its prothorax, and then begins to move its jaws threateningly and make hissing sounds. At the same time, its wings open and its abdomen swells, making the praying mantis look much larger than it actually is.
Most prominent representatives praying mantis family
1. or religious (lat. Mantis religiosa) has a greenish or brownish body color and reaches seven centimeters in length (the size of males, as a rule, is somewhat smaller and does not exceed six centimeters).
The wings of the praying mantis are well developed, so flying a short distance is not a particular problem for it.
From my relatives this type characterized by the presence of a black round spot on inside coxae of the anterior pair of limbs.
Common praying mantises begin the mating process in late summer–early autumn, while the male is actively looking for a female and, having found her, fertilizes.
After mating, the female kills the male (males rarely escape this sad fate), and then finds a secluded place where she lays about 100 embryos at a time, after which she dies. The eggs are located in a special adhesive shell (ootheca), secreted by special glands of the female and which serves as a kind of protective capsule. Thanks to ootheca, eggs can withstand temperatures as low as–20°C.
With the onset of spring warmth, usually in May, insect larvae emerge from the embryos and immediately begin to lead a predatory lifestyle.
They, like adults, hunt from ambush, hiding in the grass or camouflaging on young shoots, taking on the color of their surroundings.
The larvae attack grasshoppers, butterflies, flies and other small insects, and in the absence or insufficient food supply they can eat their relatives.
2. Chinese mantis(lat. Tenodera sinensis), as the name suggests, lives in China. This is a fairly large species of predator, reaching 15 centimeters in length, and which, unlike its closest relatives, is active night look life by hunting small insects.
The life cycle of the Chinese mantis is 5 to 6 months.
Young individuals are born wingless, their wings appear already in the last stages of molting.
3. Indian flower mantis(lat. Creobroter gemmatus) does not exceed 4 centimeters in length and is considered the smallest representative of the genusCreobroter. This species was described back in 1877 by entomologist Karl Ståhl (member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences).
The flower mantis lives in wet forests southern India, Vietnam, Laos and other Asian countries.
This insect has a more elongated body than its relatives, a greenish or cream-colored body interspersed with white. On the front wings there is a spot similar to an eye, designed to scare away predators.
Because of their attractive color, in India these mantises are kept as pets, placed in small insectariums where coconut shavings or peat are usually used as a substrate. In such conditions, insects can live in captivity for about nine months.
IN wildlife Flower mantises, as the name suggests, live on flowers, where they watch for various insects.
4. Orchid mantis(lat. Hymenopus coronatus) due to its unusual and original appearance is considered one of the most attractive representatives of the family.
The insect lives in Malaysia and Thailand, among orchids, and has a striking resemblance in appearance to these flowers.
Due to its unique shape and body coloring, this praying mantis is in high demand among lovers of exotic animals, despite the fact that the insect is quite vicious in nature.
At 8 centimeters in length, the female orchid mantis is usually twice the size of the male.
The orchid mantis has wide, petal-like limbs that allow the insects to remain undetected and attack prey (moths, flies, bees and dragonflies) attracted by the scent of orchids. Moreover, this type of predator is militant and can attack creatures that are twice the size of the mantis itself, for example, lizards and frogs.
Color Hymenopus coronatus, as a rule, light, but can take on different shades depending on the color of the plants. The ability to mimicry is most clearly manifested in young individuals.
The female insect lays embryos (from two to five pieces) in white sacs, and after five to six months, larvae hatch from them, painted in a rich, bright scarlet color. This poisonous coloring scares away enemies. Over time, after several molts, the body of the insects becomes lighter.
Orchid mantises have the ability to jump and can move in dashes.
5. Heterochaete eastern or Spike-Eye(lat . Heterochaeta orientalis) lives in the east of the African continent.
Externally, the insect resembles a twig, so it is very difficult to notice on the plant.
The mantis got its name from the presence of special jagged triangular growths in the form of spikes on which compound eyes are located. This arrangement of the visual organs allows the insect to fix objects from the front, side and back.
Notable is the neck of the insect, which has the appearance of a corrugation and allows the mantis to turn its head in different directions. Thanks to this ability, the predator can look behind itself while remaining completely motionless.
Female heterochaetes are considered giants among their relatives,- He and can grow up to 15 centimeters (with males rarely reaching 12 centimeters in length).
Despite its rather unprepossessing appearance, the insect has an easy-going character, and these insects behave very peacefully and friendly towards their relatives. This type of mantis can be kept in insectariums of several individuals at a time, the main thing is– provide them with sufficient food supply. And the female heterochaete eats her males much less often than other members of the family.
After fertilization, the female forms an ootheca with embryos in the form of a long woven thread, which can reach 12 centimeters in length. One ootheca usually contains from 60 to 70 eggs.
The born heterochaete larvae have quite big size and some reach a length of one and a half centimeters. At an air temperature of +26°C they develop for about five months.
General life cycle one insect is about 13 months.
· In the 50s of the twentieth century, an attempt was made in the USSR to use praying mantises as a biological agent to protect agricultural plants from harmful insects. Alas, this idea was a fiasco, because along with pests, mantises destroyed bees and other beneficial insects– pollinators.
· In Chinese martial arts, there is a special fighting style called the “mantis style.” According to legend, it was invented by a peasant, for a long time watching these predators hunt.
· Despite the fact that praying mantises are excellent hunters, they themselves often become victims of attack. Their main enemies are birds, snakes and the bats. Nevertheless, greatest damage populations of these insects are caused by their relatives, that is, other mantises.
- Phylum – Arthropods
- Class – Insects
- Squad – Cockroaches
- Suborder – Praying Mantis (Mantodea)
The famous Swedish scientist and traveler Carl Linnaeus gave scientific name praying mantis: Mantis religiosa. Mantis translated from Greek means “prophet”, “priest”; religiosa - religious. Why did the praying mantis get this? strange name? Look at the photo: the praying mantis looks like someone praying. He stands on only four legs out of six, and keeps his forelimbs folded in front of his muzzle, as if he is praying to the Lord
An engraving by the famous Dutch artist Maurits Escher depicts a praying mantis praying for the absolution of a deceased religious dignitary. The praying mantis really looks like a person: it holds food in its “hands”, washes itself after a meal, can turn around (the only one of all insects!) and look intently, just like a person.
But the praying mantis is not as pious as it might seem. In fact, the predatory insect waits in ambush for an unwary victim in order to grab it with lightning speed.
The praying mantis is a typical predator
The praying mantis is a typical example of a predator in wait, or, in other words, an “ambush”. For hours he can sit quietly in a secluded place, waiting for prey. The camouflage coloring allows the mantis to blend in with the vegetation, and even the shape of its body resembles part of a plant. Although he lives among the abundance of greenery, plant foods does not accept. Moreover, the carnivorous insect eats its prey exclusively alive.
Praying mantises are merciless not only towards other insects smaller in size, which for them are nothing more than a tasty lunch, but also towards their relatives. This needs to be known to those who keep this aggressive creature as pet. Two or more praying mantises are unlikely to live together, especially if one is larger than the other.
In the Middle Ages in Japan, the praying mantis was considered a symbol of courage and cruelty, and they even put the image of an insect on the handles samurai swords. And one of the positions in kung fu repeats the pose of a praying mantis, ready for battle. In addition, in China they believed that the praying mantis has healing power and can cure some diseases. The ancient Greeks considered the praying mantis a harbinger of spring and a weather predictor; they called it a “prophet” and “soothsayer.” And in some European countries even today, praying mantises are credited with some magical power. Perhaps this creature, which is an object of superstition, will arouse your interest and you will want to keep it as a treasure?
Praying mantises: appearance and structural features
Praying mantises are large insects, and females are much larger than males. There are about two thousand species of praying mantises in the world. Common mantis(lat. Mantis religiosa) measures about 6 cm in length. The largest of the mantises, the Chinese mantis, reaches a length of 15 cm.
The body of mantises is elongated, the head is almost triangular, mobile. Large, round, bulging eyes that point slightly forward and downwards provide it with a much wider field of vision than a human. And thanks to its extremely flexible neck, the praying mantis can turn its head so that it will notice any creature approaching it from behind. The mouth is well developed and equipped with biting jaws or a sucking proboscis.
Among the praying mantises there are both winged and wingless ones. In insects equipped with wings, both pairs of wings are well developed. The front wings are narrower than the hind wings and denser. Wide membranous hind wings calm state folded like a fan and covered with elytra. It must be said that the wings are for their intended purpose, i.e. for flight, the praying mantis rarely uses it. Rather, he needs them to intimidate prey, as well as enemies.
The body structure of the praying mantis indicates that the insect is well adapted to predatory image life. The abdomen is ten-segmented, soft and flattened, with numerous long outgrowths - cerci (serve as olfactory organs). The long thigh is seated along the lower edge with three rows of strong spines. The lower edge of the tibia also has 3 rows of pronounced spines. The thigh and lower leg fold together to form a powerful grasping apparatus that acts like scissors.
Mantis - master of camouflage
Some types of mantises are green in color, so they are difficult to notice among the grass and foliage, while others can have a pinkish tint, as a result they merge with flower petals. And, for example, the Indian mantis has a brown tint and on the ground looks like just a fallen leaf.
Mantis body shape and various camouflage colors allow the insect to merge with plants, which makes it practically invisible to both potential victims and enemies. The mantis itself can also become a victim of more large predators(birds, lizards). To protect itself from enemies, the praying mantis has a number of protective devices.
Thus, the camouflage color makes the praying mantis hidden in the grass almost invisible. Gives the insect movement. Under normal circumstances, the praying mantis moves very slowly, but when in danger it can quickly crawl to cover. When there is a clear threat, the insect visually increases the area of its body, opening its wings, and begins to sway from side to side, trying with all its might to scare off the enemy. The insect tries to hit the enemy with its front legs with sharp spines.
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