The European mantis (Mantis religiosa), colloquially known as the praying mantis, is a large, fascinating predatory insect named for the distinctive, folded posture of its powerful forelegs. It is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and has been introduced to North America, where it is now well-established.
 
Key Characteristics
Appearance: Adults are typically 50-75 mm (2-3 inches) in length and can be brown, green, or yellow, a color variation that helps them camouflage in their natural habitat. A key distinguishing feature is a black spot with a white or yellow center located on the inside of their foreleg (coxae). Females have an abdomen divided into six segments, while males have eight.
Anatomy: They possess a highly mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes, allowing a wide field of vision. Their specialized, spined front legs (raptorial legs) are used for efficiently capturing and restraining prey.
Defense Mechanism: When threatened, the M. religiosa employs a deimatic display, spreading its wings and bending its forelegs to reveal prominent "eyespots" to startle or scare away potential predators. 
 
Habitat and Ecology
Distribution: Native to a wide range spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa, it is also common in many parts of the United States and Canada where it was introduced over a century ago.
Diet and Hunting: The European mantis is an ambush predator that feeds on most insects it can capture, using its sharp mandibles to consume its live prey. Their diet can include grasshoppers, flies, bees, and sometimes even small frogs or lizards.
Ecological Impact: While often sold for garden pest control, the European mantis is a generalist predator and will eat both harmful and beneficial insects, such as pollinators, making its overall effect on a garden population neutral at best. 
 
Reproduction
Mating occurs in late summer. The female is known for occasionally engaging in sexual cannibalism, consuming the male during or after copulation. While often overestimated in field observations, this behavior is a notable aspect of the species. The female lays a large, flat, hard egg mass called an ootheca, which is attached to leaves or twigs and remains dormant over the winter before hatching in the spring. 
 
As Pets
European mantises are popular, low-maintenance pets, requiring a small enclosure, proper humidity (a daily spray of water), and a consistent supply of live insect prey. They have a short lifespan, typically living up to a year.