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CLASSROOM PROJECTS
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OUR PRAYING MANTISES
PRAYING MANTIS INFORMATION  The adult
PrayingMantis can be over 3 to 4 inches long.
The body is tannish-borwn with long forewings
edged in green. Prey are held securely between
the spiny forelegs which close like a knife blade
back against its handle.
In the fall the female Praying Mantis lays eggs in a large mass or cluster in a frothy substance it glues to tree twigs, plant stems, and other objects. The female dies a few weeks after egg laying . The egg case overwinters and in the spring tiny nymphs emerge from the egg mass in the spring or early summer. Mantises are carnivorous and feed on smaller insects and other small animals. The praying mantis plays a very important part in nature's insect control plan. The Praying Mantis is the only predator which feeds at night on moths and the only predator fast enough to catch mosquitoes and flies. Populations
of the Praying Mantis appear to be
increasing throughout Ohio. They do not bite
humans, damage household furnishings, nor spread
disease. Sometimes when handled, their spiny-like
forelegs can feel like a "sharp pinch." The "Praying
Mantis" is not an endangered species nor protected
by Ohio or federal law.
All five of our praying mantis cases emerged between May 16 - 21. We had hundreds and hundreds of babies. We released them into Mrs. Gray's flower garden.  May 16 Our first set of praying mantises emerged. There are lots and lots of tiny praying mantises. 
 
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