European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
Adult European mantises inhabit warm grasslands, gardens, field edges, and scrub where tall plants provide hunting perches. They are sit-and-wait predators, taking flies, moths, grasshoppers, and other insects with spined raptorial forelegs and chewing mandibles. Adults have functional wings, especially in males, but rely more on camouflage and sudden strikes than sustained flight in a fight. A notable defensive behavior is the threat display, with raised forelegs and spread wings making the animal appear larger.
- Type
- Stealth / Fang
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- European Mantis Nymph
- European Mantis