Post #15080

Common Mantis: Why is it the best among all the other mantises? As a taiga resident, the phrase “European praying mantis” hurts my ears. It always seems to me that praying mantises are something purely tropical and far from the temperate climate of Europe. However, the European (or common) mantis not only feels great in northern latitudes. He is one of the coolest mantises in principle and is capable of hunting even lizards! The most important proof of its greatness is the insect’s habitat. Even before meeting humans, common praying mantises had spread like crazy. They can be found almost throughout the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. From Portugal to China, including North Africa and hundreds of small offshore islands. And when the Europeans began to sail back and forth on their large ships, they brought the praying mantis to Australia and North America. And although the locals are well aware that he is an invader dangerous to the ecosystem, the Americans were so delighted with the predator that the praying mantis became the official insect of the state of Connecticut! Its range continues to expand today - thanks to global warming. Over the past 5 years, the insect has reached the south of the British Isles, found its way to Denmark, Estonia, and already lives north of Moscow! With all this, the common praying mantis is not an opportunistic baby, but a respectable large predator that should be respected and feared. The female is a large insect up to 9 (!) centimeters in length. Her eyes are a masterpiece of bio-optics, allowing her to focus on flies and butterflies flying at full speed. And with sharpened reflexes and modified front grasping legs, you can catch these same flies right on the fly! Males, however, are not inferior to females. Yes, they are 2-3 centimeters smaller, but their eyes are even larger, and their antennae - the organs of touch and smell - are even longer. Therefore, although larger prey is not available to males, they have a higher chance of successful hunting. But I bet you are not interested in their hunting skills, but in mating games with light notes of cannibalism. And they begin like this: a female praying mantis, ready for reproduction, releases pheromones, which the males must smell with the help of their enhanced senses. Having sensed the pheromones, the mantis takes off and flies rather slowly but confidently towards the female. Having reached her, he watches carefully, trying to understand whether it is worth approaching the female. He has no room for error. The male is not afraid of being eaten during mating, he is afraid of being eaten BEFORE mating. After all, mantises practice cannibalism all year round. Having made sure that he will not be devoured on the spot, the male begins to slowly approach. No sudden movements, mating dances or even defensive displays. One extra move, and he will turn from a potential partner into an enemy. As soon as he gets close