Hunting and Feeding: Common Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

The common praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) is a highly specialized predator and skilled ambusher, growing up to 7cm and living in all kinds of vegetation in Europe and North America (Uhlenbroek, 2008). As an elongated green or brown insect with large, spiny front legs and a distinctive triangular head, the praying mantis perfectly resembles a tree leaf or stick and relies on this camouflage to ambush its prey (Rossel, 1985). Its triangular head is extremely mobile and is equipped with a pair of large compound eyes that face forward and provide the mantis with true binocular vision (Rossel, 1985). Using these eyes is gauges the distance to its prey by moving its head to measure the apparent movement of the prey relative to its back ground (Rossel, 1985). This technique is known as binocular triangulation and is widespread among vertebrates but much less common among invertebrates (Uhlenbroek, 2008).

The praying mantis’ attack is rapid; using acute vision and location techniques it calculates the exact distance, speed and direction needed to catch the prey then launches an attack by fully extending its front legs and flexing its tibiae in a vice-like grip around its prey before retracting back to normal and consuming (Roeder, 2005). The whole attack lasts less than 100 milliseconds (Uhlenbroek, 2008).

In addition to its vision, there are many modifications to the praying mantis’ body that allow for such an attack to occur. Firstly, the front section of the thorax that carries the front legs is extremely long and combined with the elongated front legs, allows the mantis to reach large distances and snatch prey (Roeder, 2005). Secondly, the front femur is greatly enlarged to house the muscles that operate the tibia, and are also equipped with sharp spines on the inner surface (Roeder, 2005). The front tibia, also spined, then folds back like a jack-knife to mesh with the spines of the femur, creating a formidable trap (Roeder, 2005). The middle and hind legs support the insect and are used for walking and holding on to vegetation (Uhlenbroek, 2008).

The praying mantis is primarily a day hunter and feeds on a wide range of insects, spiders and other arthropods (Uhlenbroek, 2008). When prey is caught and subdued, the mantis uses its strong jaws to cut through tissue and chitin with equal ease, with no need for venom, the mantis eats its victims whole and alive, leaving only fragments (Uhlenbroek, 2008).

References:

Roeder, K. D. (2005). The control of tonus and locomotive activity in the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa L.). Journal of Experimental Zoology, 76(3), 353-374.

Rossel, S. (1985). Binocular Spatial Localization in the Praying Mantis. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 120 (1), 265-281.

Uhlenbroek, C. (2008). Animal Life. Penguin Group, UK.