The praying mantis is a master of disguise. It can hide in plain
sight. Its color and shape let the praying mantis disappear among
the leaves and twigs that it lives on. Is it hiding from its prey
or from its predators? Or both? The praying mantis waits for its
prey to come very close, about 4 inches away, and then instantly
catches it. The strike takes 50 thousandths of a second - quicker
than our eyes can see. If an insect saw the cunning mantis, it
wouldn't come so near.
Its camouflage is also a
defense against predators. Birds, lizards
and snakes will eat a praying mantis, but if they don't see it
they won't eat it. If a mantis is attacked, it can't run away
very fast. It isn't poisonous. It has one last defense. It stands
up on its back legs and spreads its wings, trying to look larger
than it is. This is called a "startle display." If that
doesn't scare away the predator, it is eaten.
