Timor shield mantis

Praying mantises are a highly diverse order of insects. They are easily recognisable by their characteristic antennae and triangular head. Their large, widely spaced compound eyes give them excellent vision. Often, only the males are capable of flight. The eggs are laid in large egg cases (known as oothecae).

The range of mantises extends across almost every continent and a wide variety of habitats. The appearance of the different species is as diverse as their habitats. In Switzerland, there is one species that is found mainly in Ticino and Valais: the European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa). This species is protected throughout Switzerland.

Most mantises are ambush hunters, which means they need perfect camouflage in their habitat so as not to be spotted by their prey (or predators). Mantises catch anything that flies or crawls into the path of their catching legs. Their diet ranges from flies, moths and bees, through grasshoppers and cockroaches, to small reptiles or even mammals.