Praying mantis (insect)A praying mantis, or praying mantid, is a
kind of insect, of the family Mantidae (order Dictyoptera),
named for their "prayer-like" stance. (The word mantis in Greek
means prophet.) There are approximately 2,000 species world-
wide; most are tropical or subtropical. The most common species
is Mantis religiosa. Mantids are notable for their large size
and nimble reflexes. Their diet, which consists exclusively of
living insects, includes flies and aphids, which are caught and
held securely with the grasping forelegs. Mantids make use of
protective coloration to blend in with the foliage, both to
avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims.