The mantis in Poland is not common. Out of more than 2,300 known species of this insect in our country, only the common praying mantis has been observed. Is it dangerous to humans and what does it look like? Does the female mantis eat the male?

The mantis in Polandis a protected species. Our common praying mantis ( Mantis religiosa ) has been entered in the Polish Red Book of Animals, which includes all endangered species in the country on the Vistula River. Entering a praying mantis on such a list means that not only cannot these insects be killed, but also bred or even kept.

Contents:

  1. Mantis: species characteristics
  2. Praying mantis in Poland
    • Praying mantis in Poland: what does it look like?
    • Praying mantis in Poland: is it dangerous?

Mantis: species characteristics

When describing the mantis, it is worth starting with the name itself - Polish is very accurate because it describes a pose characteristic of this insect, resembling hands folded in prayer. Moreover, the mantis is a predatory insect that can freeze before the attack, waiting for the right moment to attack its victim. This deepens the impression of her almost mystical concentration.

So far, scientists have described 2,300 different species of mantis, usually found in tropical and subtropical climates - they love heat. Until recently, the common mantis appearing in Poland could be observed mainly in the Sandomierz Basin, but due to the warming climate and more and more frequent hot summers, the praying mantis can be found in more and more places: in the vicinity of Warsaw, Olsztyn, Białystok, in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and the Carpathians.

The mantis is a species of cannibalism. Dave Goulson, author of the book "Meadow", he recalls, once studied the behavior of a praying mantis. First, he placed the still unripe insects all together in the jar, but after some time it turned out that only one big one of the several dozen small ones remained. So he decided to change the tactic and put the insects in separate jars - thanks to this, they all survived to adulthood. flies or grasshoppers.

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Praying mantis in Poland

As mentioned, the common mantis is a species of mantis occurring in Poland. This type of insect was first described in 1758. It is the largest species of praying mantis in Europe. Male Eurasian mantis fly, female mantis do not. The female can be up to 7 cm, and the male - up to 6 cm. During copulation, the female of the common mantis is passive, and the male, as described by Dave Goulson, can use two methods before approaching his chosen one. Either set aside the mating dance in front of the female and then approach her from the front, or attack her from the back - jump on her back, but it is worth remembering that the female does not agree to these advances just like that - if she wants to have intercourse, she will allow If not, it will fight the male and most often, due to its size, will win. Female common praying mantis lays about 200 eggs - in Poland, the larvae hatch in May, and it takes several months for the larva to completely transform. After hatching, neither the female nor the male take care of the larvae - they have to deal with themselves.

And here is the common praying mantis:

Praying mantis in Poland: what does it look like?

The common mantis is associated with the color green and this is the color it takes. It can also be brown in color - and both make it look like leaves or branches. Thanks to this, it can successfully blend in with the surroundings and hunt.

The common mantis has two pairs of wings - the first is tight to the body and is stiff, the second - membranous. Thanks to this second pair of wings, the male can fly, the female is too heavy for that. The mantis also has a small triangular head that it can move, and a pair of huge, wide-set eyes with a range of vision of approximately 20 meters. The body of the common praying mantis is elongated.

The legs of the praying mantis are equipped with spikes along their entire length, thanks to which it is difficult for the victim to get out of the trap. The first pair of praying mantis legs is a prehensile organ, and the insect's grip is so strong that even a frog would find it difficult to get out of it.

And here are photos of common praying mantises, taken by Poles who came across them in nature or… at home:

It is apparently not an exceptional situation, but I also have a praying mantis
I run through fields and forests and I have never seen what I met in the center of Warsaw - a praying mantis! . nature modliszka polishgirl pandorabracelet pandora lato warszawaupałsurprisegoodevening city mantis Post shared by Bianka Heyman (@biaheya) Aug 2, 2022 at 10:27 PDT
Worth knowing

Does the female mantis eat the male?

Praying mantis are known to eat males by females. It is from the name of this species that the term "female-mantis" was born, meaning a woman as beautiful as it is dangerous.

It is true with the insect-mantis - the female eats the male and starts her feast from his head. Interestingly, this one can continue copulating after decapitation. However, this is not a rule - usually the male has a chance to survive, especially when the female is well fed. Females eat males "only" about 30% of the time.

The female eats the male probably to save energy for laying eggs later.

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The most famous species of mantis in the world are:

  • Orchid mantis( Hymenopus coronatus ) - with an impressive appearance reminiscent of orchid flowers. The orchid mantis is pinkish, pink-white or white in color, and its legs resemble flower petals. This beautiful appearance can be deceiving, however - it is a predatory insect that mainly hunts for crickets, house flies, butterflies, and fruit flies. The male is up to 3 cm in size, and the female - up to 6 cm. Look for yourself:
A post shared by 賢 與 爬 Kim's Reptiles (@kims_reptiles) Jul 29, 2022 at 3:46 PDT
  • Guinea mantis( Sphodromantis gastrica ) - as well as other species of mantis, it is a predatory insect that hunts for running and flying insects. The Guinean mantis can be of different colors - from green to brown. The male of this species reaches 6 cm in length, and the female - 7 cm. see the guinea mantis:
A post shared by Steven Dickie (@ avicularia1510) Nov 9, 2022 at 4:32 PST
  • Devil's praying mantis( Idolomantis diabolica ) - contrary to its name, it is quite a skittish insect, choosing insects smaller than itself for its food. However, the devil's mantis is famous for its spectacular appearance - it is colorful and quite large. Females reach up to 10 cm, and males - 9 cm.
A post shared by Talenthouse Español (@talenthouse_es) Nov 18, 2022 at 8:10 PST

Praying mantis in Poland: is it dangerous?

A mantis can be dangerous to its partner, other insects, and even small amphibians, but not to humans. Unfortunately,a mantis that feels attacked will bite. It may be painful, but for example, a sleeping person bitten by this insect is unlikely to wake up. A mantis bite, while painful, is not dangerous.

What to do when we encounter a praying mantis on our way? If this happens outside, in its natural environment, we should not do anything - only a photo.

If an insect finds its way to our home, you can gently, e.g. on a piece of paper or in a jar, try to move it outside.

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