European mantisMantis religiosa
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Common
- Active during
- Afternoon
- Found in
- Strawbend Fields
- Length
- 2.5 in
- Wingspan
- 3 in
From the field notes
Hunting
These ambush predators are strictly carnivores. While locating prey, they lie completely still and use a flexible neck joint to swivel their heads 180°. They strike with lightning speed, using spiked, folding forelegs to tightly pin their meal.
Defense
First line of defense is camofla camouflaging as a leaf. When that fails, they rear up and fan out their wings to look larger. Their inner forearms have eye-like patterns they flash to fully transform into a larger critter.
Mating
In about a quarter of mating encounters, the larger female will decapitate and consume the male, utilizing his nutrient-rich body to fuel her massive egg production.
The Egg Case
Females lay up to 200 eggs inside a frothy mass called an ootheca. This foam rapidly hardens into a tough, weather-resistant casing, insulating the developing nymphs through the freezing winter months.
Field Marks
The European Mantis has unique black-and-white eye spots tucked inside their inner forearms. (See Defense card).