Praying Mantis
Mantodea or mantises is an order of insects which contains approximately 2,000 species in 9 families worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. Most of the species are in the family Mantidae. Historically, the term “mantid” was used to refer to any member of the order because for most of the past century, only one family was recognized within the order; technically, however, the term only refers to this one family, meaning the species in the other eight recently-established families are not mantids, by definition (i.e., they are empusids, or hymenopodids, etc.), and the term “mantises” should be used when referring to the entire order. A colloquial name for the order is “praying mantises”, because of the typical “prayer-like” stance. The term is often mis-spelled as “preying mantis”, and this an eggcorn since mantises are notoriously predatory. The word mantis is Greek for “prophet” or “fortune teller”. In Europe, the name “praying mantis” refers to only a single species, Mantis religiosa. The closest relatives of mantises are the orders Isoptera (termites) and Blattodea (cockroaches), and these three groups together are sometimes ranked as an order rather than a superorder.
About 20 species are native to the United States, including the common Carolina mantis, and only one in Canada. Two species (the Chinese mantis and the European Mantis) were deliberately introduced to serve as pest control for agriculture, and have spread widely in both countries. While it is legal to keep native mantises as pets or to sell egg cases for gardening, non-native species are illegal to possess and release in the United States, under the Non Native Invasive Species Act of 1992.(wiki)



Greeting Cards

Rosie Appleton
Very cool :-D well done!
Marleia Main replied
Hello Rosie : )) Thank you so much for commenting!! I really appreciate it : ))))
FelicityB
I think these little guys are really cute :) Your macro is amazing!
Marleia Main replied
hello Felicity : )) Thank you so much! I am glad you like these little guys .. They are one of my favs!! : )))
Anne Smyth
wonderful capture!
Marleia Main replied
Thank you so very much Anne : ))
barnsis
Amazing macro beautiful image.
Marleia Main replied
hello Byron : )) Thank you so very much for commenting .. Love my Mantises!!
Jeannette Sheehy
they’re weird looking close up…like aliens…really cool photos Mar :)
Marleia Main replied
Hello JLS : )) Thank you ever so : )))) DOB 4ever : )
Nic Relton
Great page M. I really like it! These pics are cool!!! Mantids are AMAZING!!! :)
Marleia Main replied
Thank you N. : )) Mantises are the coolest : ))
Jeff Palm Phot...
Marleia fantastic work!! excellent macro!
Marleia Main replied
Hey you : )) Thank you so very much : ))
www4gsus
Absolutely killer shot Marleia!!!
Cristóbal
Marleia Main replied
hey Cristobal : )) Thank you for commenting on this one : ))
Johanna Rutter
awesome shot!!
Marleia Main replied
Hello Johanna : )) Thank you so much for commenting on my Mantis : )))
Dennis Gay
G’day Marleia,
You have managed to catch this magnificent Mantid wearing such a cheeky expression and in a very cheeky over-the-shoulder pose and have produced a very interesting technically and aesthetically good study, shot in good light.
GB
Dennis
Marleia Main replied
Hello Dennis : )) What a wonderful comment : )) The main picture was chosen because of the over the shoulder “model” pose lol .. You saw that .. I love it!! Thank you so much for viewing my work : )))
Ken Thomas
Awesome macro!!!
Marleia Main replied
hello Ken : )) Thank you for stopping by and commenting : )) I really appreciate it : ))
Fremme
stunning series, all amazing shot, great details, colors , very well done
Marleia Main replied
Hello : )) Thank you so very much for the lovely comment : ))
carlosramos
Outstanding!
Marleia Main replied
Hello Carlos : )) Thank you so much for checking out my Mantis portrait and commenting : )))
StuartR
Great close up. One of the more interesting (and fun) insects to look at.
Marleia Main replied
Hi Stuart! Thank you so much for commenting .. I really appreciate it : ))
Enivea
As a gardener, I am familiar with some of these insects, and enjoy their presence immensely. Thanks for the information on them, had no idea of their relatives – will look at cockroaches differently now!
Marleia Main replied
Hello Enivea : )) Thank you so very much : )) I know .. Who knew about the Cockroach connection .. weird huh??
Macky
Ahhhh fantastic, brilliant capture of a most interesting creature, well done Marleia!!
Marleia Main replied
Hello There : )) Your mantis is so different from mine .. pretty cool huh?? Thank you so much for commenting : ))
Assef Al-Jundi
love this shot… up close and personal ; )
Marleia Main replied
Hello Assef : )) Thank you so much for commenting on my mantis!! I really appreciate the visit : ))
flyfish70
Wonderful info Marleia, and a very beautiful close up, my favorite of all insects!!!!!!!! Very nice lose up!!!!!!
Marleia Main replied
Hello Ashby : )) Thank you for commenting on my Mantis : )) I love them too .. Very cool Insects!!
Christopher Bi...
miss mar, wonderful macro you have really made this zing! (i think i ate one of these in thailand!!) xx
Marleia Main replied
Mister!!! You are sooo naughty!! Stop eating my photography subjects you!! Let me guess .. Butter and Garlic sauce?? Naughty, Naughty!! Thank you for commenting .. I have missed you : )))))
jesika
A lovely “posed” shot and great information from the University of RedBubble. My share of the collective grey cell is seriously stuffed with information since I joined RB.
j
Marleia Main replied
Hello Jesika : ) I am so glad to see you liked this one : )) Thank you so much for commenting : )
MDossat
Excellent shot. He looks likes he’s posing for you.
Marleia Main replied
Hello : )) I love these Insects!! It is always a pleasure when I find one. They are so photogenic!! Thank you so very much! : )
Grant Scollay
It’s as if he is looking over his shoulder saying come on lets go! I have a challenge now to see if I can photograph an Australian Mantis for you,except I dont think I will be able to provide the same in-depth description. Nice Photo.
Marleia Main replied
Hello Grant : ) I can’t wait to see one of your Mantises!! They are such awesome insects!! Thank you so much for commenting : ))
velveteagle
This looks great Marleia…
Chuck..
Marleia Main replied
Hello Chuck : )) Thank you so very much for checking this guy out : ))
melant1017
Awesome as always Marleia, well done :)
-Antonio
Marleia Main replied
Hello you : ) Thank you very much Antonio : ))
greenpeg
wow what a great macro image….............
Marleia Main replied
Hello Thank you so very much : ))
Carol Barona
Stunning capture. Detail is amazing.
Marleia Main replied
Hi Carol : )) Thank you so much for commenting : ))
Christopher Bi...
eeek! yes i have it was a bag of mixed bugs that i shared with some of the locals on a night out, of course we had them with beer! well i did anyway, not sure if that was for enjoyment or courage lol…xx
CarolM
I love this close and personal view of it. Good detail and such a pleasing background. He’s a rather handsome fella.
Marleia Main replied
hello Carol .. he is a cutie huh?? Thank you so very much : ))
Jim Sugrue
Another magnificent shot Marleia!
Marleia Main replied
Hey u : )) Having fun in Boston?? Hope so .. Thank you so much : )
Ken Boxsell
I love this picture!! Just Gorgeous : )
Marleia Main replied
Hello There Mister : ) Thank you so very much : ))))) I truly appreciate the comment!!
Candyworld
Great Macro! jeeez this sure is close lol
Marleia Main replied
Hello : ) Thank you so much for commenting : )
Steve Bulford
Another great one!
Marleia Main replied
Hey you!! Thank you so much!! U r too kind ; )
paulscar
amazing macro!!!!
Marleia Main replied
Hi Paul : ) Thank you so very much : )))))
Matthew Scotland
just amazing as ever – such a cheeky looking chap – looks as if he’s just popped his head out of a spaceship
Marleia Main
hey u : )) Thank you ever so : )))
Alan Coote
You must have the patience of “Job”. What an awesome collection of images. I can only dream of ever capturing something remotely like these. What a talent you have.
Marleia Main replied
Hi Alan : ) Thank you so very much : ) I really appreciate your comment .. I do try to have a lot of patience lol!! : )) Thank you again!!
Rebecca Bryson
Fabulous!
Marleia Main replied
Thank you so much Rebecca : ))
Béla Török
Gorgeous capture!
Marleia Main replied
Hello : ) Thank you so very much : ))
Rachel Stickney
Awesome capture, Marleia! So creepy yet so fascinating! They look like aliens. I just got a macro lens but I’m not sure if I’m going to shoot bugs… ugh… maybe pretty butterflies or ladybugs! :-D
Marleia Main replied
You might be surprised at how cute other bugs are : )) Enjoy the lens!! I cohost a Ladybug group so find some cuties and get snapping : )) Thank you for commenting : ))))))
funkybunch
great shot
Marleia Main replied
Hey funkybunch : )) Thank you so much : ))
Singjoyous
I Like this picture. I don’t normally like insects, but I do like the Praying Mantis. They remind me of something out of science fiction. They are fascinating.
Marleia Main replied
Thank you so very much!! I really like them too. Very interesting insects. They are related to termites and cockroaches!! What a weird family tree huh? lol!!
Singjoyous
Wow! I didn’t know that. Yes that is a very weird family tree.
Marleia Main replied
I know! It is hard to see how it is even possible!!!!
Meike
WOW!! Is this pretty! Such a great close up!!
Amanda Emblow
A cheeky poser ! well done :)