Culturing Praying Mantises

The praying mantis is easily recognized by most people. This insect undergoes incomplete metamorphosis with the young resembling miniature adults. The young are more properly called nymphs. The nymphs undergo 7–9 molts as they mature. The praying mantis is the only insect that can rotate its head 180 degrees. Mantises also have five eyes—two large compound eyes located on either side of the triangular head and three simple eyes that can be seen in a triangle formation between the antennae in adults.