What do you think: about whom will we talk about this story? About insect, called Bogomol. Why was this six-loving so called, and that the insect of Bogomol is insect - we will try to figure out ...

Mantis fell into the squabbathing squad, they form a view consisting of about 3 thousand species. The insect received its name because of the manner in a special way to fold the front legs, which makes it look like a praying person.

Appearance of Bogomol

- Large insects growing up to 11 centimeters in length.

This insect can have a different color - the colors of the mantomol fully corresponds to its habitat, it can coincide with the color of leaves, herbs and stones.

In the fixed state of the mantomole, it is very difficult to detect. The predator moves slowly, but if he faces the danger, he becomes rapid. After it turns out to be at a safe distance, freezes.


The wings of these insects are well developed, so they fly beautifully, but this method of movement is used only by males, and they fly at night, and during the day they can, occasionally, pepger from one branch to another.

The head of the mantomol has a triangular shape, while it is rather mobile. This insect has well-developed eyes, so sees canceled. The predator monitors the situation and the lightning reacts to any moving object. He begins to approach the victim, and then grabs it with his strong limbs. After he remains only to slowly eat prey.

The habitat of Bogomolov


These insects are common in such parts of the world as: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America.

The lifestyle of the Bogomol and their diet

Mantis - predators, their main food are congratulations in class, i.e. - Other insects. The largest individuals can attack, and even birds. The predator eats his victim slowly, the food process lasts about 3 hours, and food digested throughout the week.

In the small insects, mantis hunt from the ambush. Thanks to the protective color, the predator is very difficult to notice. He is just waiting for some insect with him, and then grabs him. And major victims of the mantis are pursued when catching up, jumping onto the back, grab the head, and begin to slowly eat.


Mantis, despite the "devout" name, a true predator.

Badges react only to moving goals, and their fixed objects are not interested. This predator is incredibly voracious. Adult mantis at once eats up to 7 cockroaches size 1 centimeter. For the eating of each victim takes 30 minutes. First, the insect eats soft fabrics, and then proceeds to solid. From Tarakan, the mantis leaves only the ultimate stubs and wings. Sweet insects mantis can eat entirely.

As a rule, the insect chooses a settling lifestyle if food is enough, then a mantis can live on one tree throughout life. Mantis are most often located on the branches of trees and shrubs, but they can also dug in the grass or right on Earth.


Mantis - very prolific creatures.

The reproduction of the Bogomolov

These insects are breed at the end of summer. In our country, ordinary mantis mantows fall in August - September. In 50% of cases during the pairing, the female eats the male. Females are much larger than males, they need protein, so males are part of the diet for them.

The female of the Mantis postpones 100-300 eggs. She punches eggs with a special adhesive agent that hardens and the capsule is obtained. These capsules call Oothek. The capsule has a solid structure, it sticks to plants or stones and reliably protects the egg from external factors. Inside the capsule is maintained optimum temperature and humidity. In Ootek, eggs are not dying even when the temperature drops to -18 degrees.


The protective "rack" of the insect gave him the name - the paws are folded like a praying.

In a temperate climate, eggs winter, and in warm areas the incubation period lasts a month, after which the larvae is hatched from eggs. The larvae have small spikes on their surface, thanks to which they crawl out of the capsule. On freedom of larvae linen. After dropping the skins, they acquire similarities with adult individuals, but only without wings. The larvae is very movable, they have a protective color.


In most regions, the larvae hatch in April-May. For 2.5 months, they have 5 times to polish, only after that they turn into adult insects. The process of puberty takes 2 weeks, and then males are looking for females for mating. The life expectancy of the Bogomol - 2 months. The first killes die, after mating, they cease to seek prey, become sluggish and dying. The males live as early as possible, and females - until October.

Artistic insects from the detachment of the Bogomolov received their Russian name due to the fact that their forefillments are similar to the hands of a person bent in their hands.

Being in ambush, they take an expectant position. In the photo of the Bogomolov, you can see this feature of behavior. Such a pose is associated with the position of the human body that reads the prayer.

Description of insects

These arthropods insects are the holders of an elongated body with a triangular head, which revolves around its axis. Badges notice the enemies who are ready to attack them from behind.

See what a mantis looks like, the photo shows the complex structure of the convex eye. They are on the sides of the head, the insect also has 3 extra eyes.

Many segments forms a mustache. The roded apparatus of the rodent type is directed down.

A feature is considered a conntion that expands up. The torso is 10 segments. The latter is a pair of appendages that serve as an olfactory bodies.

Most varieties of the mantis have wings and can fly. Front pair of wings, narrower compared to the rear, is used as an obscury.

A wider pair of wings rear can be brightly painted and even have a drawing. In addition, there are mantis without wings, similar to larvae.

Insects have well-developed forelimbs. On the legs there are 5 segments and 2 large cogging. In addition to the foot as part of the limb, the shin, basin, thigh, verdlug are distinguished. The femur and the shin have spikes.

The victim of the mantis in the course of eating keeps between the shin and the thigh. Other insect legs are distinguished by a typical structure for arthropods. Blowing mantis at the expense of the trach system.

The female of the mantis in size is larger than the male.

There are species that in length reach 16-17 cm, but there are also a variety of no more than 5 mm.

In the color of the body camouflage. Color literally merges with the environment.

Some representatives of the Bogomol resemble leaflets, wands or flowers, others are painted under the Wooden Cour, lichens or ashes, which is spread by the wind after the fire.

Insecting coloring can be different: green, brownish, yellow and even contrasting. The color of the same individual may change after molting.

Enemies of segmental insects

Badges can become prey for snakes, chameleons, bats and birds. Having met the enemy, the insect is trying to scare the attacker.

Bogomol takes a frightening position and makes frightening sounds. But when the enemy turns out to be stronger, he flies.

How much does Bogomol live?

Each species affiliation has its own life expectancy. It can vary within 2 - 11 months.

Natural habitat

Badges live in most Asian and European countries in the south and in the central part. Insects can be found in Africa, South and North America, as well as in Australia.

Mantis feels perfectly feel in the tropical and subtropical climate. Insects live in the steppes, deserts and in the meadows. The only reason they leave the habitat are lack of food.

Most of the kinds of Bogomolov show activity during the daytime.

What do mantis fees eat?

These arthropods are predators, so basically they feed on other insects. Predators are hunting on flies, mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees, butterflies, beetles and cockroaches.

The biggest representatives of this detachment attack small amphibians, birds and rodents.

How do mantis breeds breed?

Insect the transformation cycle is not complete. For Bogomolov, a sexual demorphism is characteristic. Those who live in the tropics breed all year round. For the inhabitants of the moderate climatic zone, the reproduction period begins with the onset of autumn.

Males are looking for females for mating. They dance ritual dance so that the partner does not see their food in them. To appear offspring, the process of fertilization is required.

When the female of the mantis is postponing not fertilized eggs, they are far from them.

Often after fertilization of the male dies. It eats a partner, thereby raping nutrient reserves.

There are varieties in which mantis-male after fertilization remains alive.

The female lays eggs on trees or high grass. She has to squeeze them out of his eggs.

With the help of a sticky secret from the special glands, it protects fertilized eggs that turn out to be in a kind of capsule. The female, depending on the species, is able to postpone 10-400 eggs.

Capsule or edema can be different shades from light yellow to gray. After laying eggs, females soon die. The larvae of the manthomole is crawling out of eggs through different intervals of time - from 3 weeks to 6 months.

Photo of the mantis

Mantis - large insects with a narrow elongated body. Inborn predators and camouflage masters attack prey from the ambush, completely merging with foliage and branches. Exterminating insect phytophages, they benefit agriculture. The mantis is an ordinary typical representative of the Children's Detachment, inhabiting Europe. The characteristic feature of insects is the front legs equipped with tools for grabbing and holding mining. There are sharp spikes on the hips and lower legs, which seem to catch a careless sacrifice. The marriage cannibalism of the Bogomol is known to many. This amazing feature has become an inspiration source for writing terrible stories and filming movies.

Description of type

Mantisreligiosa (MantisReligiosa) belongs to the detachment of the Badmole, which includes 2800 species. The body of the insect is narrow and elongated. The males grow up to 43-52 mm, females are much larger - 50-75 mm. Anatomical feature of the Bogomolov is the structure of the forehead limbs. Grass legs with spiked elongated hips and legs are designed to hold mining. The thigh and the shin in the bundle function on the principle of scissors. From the inside of the basins of the front limbs there is a dark spot with a white mark in the middle.

Interesting fact. Despite the fact that the females are larger than male male individuals and big eyes.

The head is triangular, movable, the insect is able to look back. On the sides are large, convex facets. In European Bogomols, they have a black pupil. The forehead is long filamentous mustache and three simple eyes. The rotted type apparatus is directed down. Ordinary mantis has two pairs of well-developed wings. Light males and young females are able to make flights to a considerable distance.

Front wings are narrow and leathery, they replace the pulp. The rear wings are wide, in a calm state fold on the back of the type of Veter. The conntion expands in the upper part, but never covers his head. The abdomen is elongated, soft, consists of 10 segments. On the last segment are the appendages - chils. Body sides are 10 pairs of the breath.

Type of color of an ordinary mantis is a patronage. Body color is green (in 80% of cases), yellow, light or dark brown. The camouflage color allows you to merge with the environment. When the insect is motionless, it completely mimicries under the foliage or twig. Camouflage performs two functions: allows you to hunt from an ambush and hide from enemies.

Information. When attacking the enemy, the mantis opens the wings to increase in size. He swinging from side to side and threateningly raises the front legs and the edge of the abdomen. All actions are aimed at scringing the aggressor. If the enemy is too big, the mantis flies.

Name history

The scientific name of the view on Latin sounds MantisReligiosa. The word Mantis translates "Priest", "Prophet", Religiosa - "Religious". Karl Linney chose the title not by chance, waiting for prey, a mantis ordinary or a mantis religious puts his legs in the grooves of the thighs. His pose resembles a man frozen in prayer.

Distribution area

The view of Mantisreligiosa refers to the thermal-loving, you will not meet it for the 50th parallel. The Northern Distribution Border in Europe is held in the south of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, France. The mantis ordinary is often found in the European Southern Regions, on the Islands of the Mediterranean Sea, in Sudan, in the Middle East. The predatory insects were delivered to remote parts of the world - New Guinea, the United States, partially populated the south of Canada. Climate warming contributes to the spread of habitat to the north. Imago Mantisreligiosa is fixed in Belarus and Latvia, where she used to do not dwell. In Russia, insects in large quantities live on the Black Sea coast, in Crimea and the Caucasus.

Lifestyle

Bogomol lives and hunts as a typical "sucking". The predator freezes until the moment the victim does not turn out to be within reach. He grabs prey with the front legs and begins to eat from the head. The males are careful in choosing hunting objects, they attack flies, locust and other small insects. Large females often attack victims practically equal to them in size. Aggressive individuals attack lizards, birds, frogs. They jump on the back of the reptile and bite the head. The fight lasts a few minutes, in the process the hunter can become a victim. With a successful outcome, production is eaten for 2-3 hours. The female remains up to 4-5 days.

You can meet Mantisreligiosa in the forest, steppe dispersion, in the meadow. Insects do not avoid even major cities where they adapted to live in the grass, parks and gardens. Favorite habitats of mantis ordinary high trees and shrubs. Insects prefer a settling lifestyle. They do not leave the usual territory, move between tiers. Four limbs are used for movement, less often wings.

With sufficient food, they spend all their lives on one plant. Insects have excellent vision, they catch the slightest movement in the environment. Camouflage color allows you to get closer to mining. Hunting occurs during the daytime. All soft fabrics are eaten by the production, chitinic legs and wings remain. How much the mantis ordinary lives depends on the number of food and gender. The age of females is longer, on average, representatives of the species in natural conditions live 2-3 months. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.

Like any insect at the mantis many natural enemies. Birds, snakes, small mammals, bats are hunting for him. It runs the segregate slowly, takes off heavily. Its awesome dance with spoiled fan wings scares only inexperienced young birds. For the rest of large hunters, mantis is easy prey.

Meaning in nature

The biological significance of the mantis ordinary is connected with his lifestyle. He is a predator, exterminating harmful insects. Imago and larvae eat phytophages on trees and shrubs. Attempts were not once performed to organize the protection of agricultural land with the help of a mantis. Large-scale plans for the use of predators in the role of biological weapons against pests were not crowned with success, but many farmers buy Ootha Mantisreligiosa. They are placed in the gardens for the safe destruction of Tly and TRIPS.

The sexual dimorphism of insects is brightly expressed in the sizes of male and female individuals.

Sexual behavior of insects is closely studied by scientists. Relations between partners are divided into two stages:

  • preliminary courtship;
  • pairing.

In a moderate climate, the reproduction period falls on August-September. At the end, the males abdomen are the sensitive sense of smell - chils. With their help, insects capture females pheromones. The process of courtship lies in a careful approach to the object of passion. The male slowly and gently moves to the female, trying to bypass it. When she turns his head, freezing in place, using the fact that mantis are not reacting to fixed figures. Clearing takes a few hours, but allows you to stay alive before mating.

Reaching the potential partner, the male jumps on her back. He keeps his legs by placing them in special grooves on the sides of the female midgets. In such a safe position, it begins copulation. The process can last 4-5 hours. In 50% of cases, the male managed to escape. Raishes from the partner to a safe distance, it freezes for a few minutes. It is necessary for rest.

Badges belong to insects with incomplete transformation. The development of individual occurs in 3 stages: egg, larva, imago. 10-11 days after the fertilization of the female of the mantis ordinary places eggs. The masonry is 100-300 pieces. Together with the eggs produced a sticky secret. After the fluid is frozen, it is formed - a protective capsule in which the masonry is not exposed to external influence. Ootka yellow or brown, it is attached to branches or stones. Eggs stay to winter.

Lichwood

The offspring of the mantis appears in the spring. The larvae is born with a multitude of spines on the body and two threads on the trouser. Spikes help young get out of the capsule. The larvae is hanging on tailing threads, the first molting occurs. Before the growing, they will have to survive 4 more molts. Outless larvae look like imago. They feed on flies of drosophylas, tools, trips.

Cannibalism in the process of mating

During the period of reproduction, under the action of sex hormones, aggressiveness of females is enhanced. The partner is in danger, if the female is famous for 2-3 days. She can attack the male to copulation. It will give the necessary nutrients, besides the size of production larger than ordinary insects. The partner risks to die during the pairing, the loss of the head does not affect copulation. The eating of the male after the adoption of the spermatophora has the same reasons. The female of the mantomol provides the power of the future offspring, increasing the chances of producing a large number of eggs.

Interesting fact. The males choose to mate large fat females, it reduces the risk of being eaten during fertilization.

Home mantis is an exotic pet that can live at home about a year. Insects are smart, contact, rather large sizes. To accommodate a pet, the terrarium will be required. They are two types: plastic and glass. The second option is preferable. Air access provides a mesh lid. The length of the dwelling should be 3 times the size of the body size of the mantis.

The thermo-loving insect requires a temperature of 22-26 ° C. It is possible to support it with a special heater or lamp installed near the tank. Recommended humidity 40-60%. Supported by daily spraying substrate. It is not necessary to put the drinking system, there is enough moisture on the walls of the terrarium. Pet without fears take in hand, the more often the contact is happening, the sooner he gets used to man.

Sand or coconut sawdust is embanked as a substrate. The twigs and squigs are placed inside, which will crawl insect. An important nuance in the content of several ordinary mantis - placement of them in different tanks. This will prevent cannibalism characteristic of the form. Food for a predator serve grasshoppers, flies, locusts, crickets, cockroaches. Feed pets every 2-3 days. Depending on the size, 1-3 feed insects give 1-3. By running mining inside the container, you can watch the hunting.

Security measures

Despite the widespread insects in some regions of Russia, a mantis ordinary is listed in the Red Book. By the category of rare species, it is ranked in the Chelyabinsk, Voronezh, Kurgan, Belgorod and Lipetsk region. The number of insects decreased as a result of the decaying of the lands, the grass was flooded, solid haymaking, the use of pesticides during field processing. In the habitats of Bogomolov, economic activities are limited. For the protection of the species, the disintegration of the plots, grazing of the cattle, the use of pesticides, killing or catching insects is prohibited. In Germany, a mantis ordinary is brought into a red sheet as a cutting appearance. It can not be caught in nature and keep at home as a pet.

A type: Clavistonogy

Class: Insects

Squad: Cockroachenoid

Suborder: Bogomoles

Family: Real Manties

Subfamily: Mantinae.

Tribe: Mantini.

Rank: Mantis

View: Mantisreligiosa (Mantisreligiosa)

Description of type

The scientific name of the view on Latin sounds MantisReligiosa. The word Mantis translates "Priest", "Prophet", Religiosa - "Religious". Karl Linney chose the title not by chance, waiting for prey, a mantis ordinary or a mantis religious puts his legs in the grooves of the thighs. His pose resembles a man frozen in prayer.

Mantisreligiosa (MantisReligiosa) belongs to the detachment of the Badmole, which includes 2800 species. The body of the insect is narrow and elongated. The males grow up to 43-52 mm, females are much larger - 50-75 mm. Anatomical feature of the Bogomolov is the structure of the forehead limbs. Grass legs with spiked elongated hips and legs are designed to hold mining. The thigh and the shin in the bundle function on the principle of scissors. From the inside of the basins of the front limbs there is a dark spot with a white mark in the middle.

Despite the fact that the females are larger than male male individuals and big eyes.

The head is triangular, movable, the insect is able to look back. On the sides are large, convex facets. In European Bogomols, they have a black pupil. The forehead is long filamentous mustache and three simple eyes. The rotted type apparatus is directed down. Ordinary mantis has two pairs of well-developed wings. Light males and young females are able to make flights to a considerable distance.

Front wings are narrow and leathery, they replace the pulp. The rear wings are wide, in a calm state fold on the back of the type of Veter. The conntion expands in the upper part, but never covers his head. The abdomen is elongated, soft, consists of 10 segments. On the last segment are the appendages - chils. Body sides are 10 pairs of the breath.

Color and camouflage

Type of color of an ordinary mantis is a patronage. Body color is green (in 80% of cases), yellow, light or dark brown. The camouflage color allows you to merge with the environment. When the insect is motionless, it completely mimicries under the foliage or twig. Camouflage performs two functions: allows you to hunt from an ambush and hide from enemies.

Some mantis have a stunningly complex and efficient camouflage color, as they can sort with any other animal. Some can merge so well with the trees and leaves that they are almost impossible to notice. They even swing, as if hesitated with a light breeze leaves and twigs. Some of the most fantastic camouflages have species of a mantis violin from India and Orchidog's Bogomol from Malaysia. They have a purple-purple or bright pink color with the impressions of the desired shade of green and strategically properly placed dark areas, and can bend the abdomen so that it turns out an exact copy of the flower part. Even experts may mistakenly take them behind the flower.

When attacking the enemy, the mantis opens the wings to increase in size. He swinging from side to side and threateningly raises the front legs and the edge of the abdomen. All actions are aimed at scringing the aggressor. If the enemy is too big, the mantis flies.

Spread

Widely distributed in the southern regions of Europe, entering north to 54 ° north latitude; Intern and Central Asia, Kazakhstan, North Africa, in the south of the African continent comes to Transvaal and Capskaya Land (South Africa). Thanks to the person came far beyond his range, as it was delivered by merchant ships in North America and Australia. In Russia, it is common in the European part (south of 50 - 54 ° C. sh.), In the Caucasus, in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals, in the south of Siberia and the Far East.

Types of Bogomolov

There are only more than 2000 species of the Bogomol.

Below is a description of several varieties:

  • Mantis Ordinary (Lat. Mantis Religiosa)it lives in most European countries, Asia and Africa. In the area of \u200b\u200bits distribution, Portugal and Spain, Italy and France, Turkey, Germany, Austria and Poland, as well as the numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea are included. This view is found in Sudan and Egypt, in Israel and Iran, as well as in Russia, ranging from the southern regions and ending with the Primorsky Kra. The introduced populations are marked in Australia and North America. A distinctive feature of this species is a twist of black color, which is located on both basins of the front pair of legs on the inside. Often, the center of such a stain is visible light note.

  • Chinese Bogomol (Chinese Clan Bogomol) (Lat. Tenodera Aridifolia, Tenodera Sinensis)it is an endemic species, which in vivo is common throughout China. Adult females of the mantis reach 15 cm long, the sizes of males are much more modest. The color of these insects does not depend on the sexual belonging and can be green or brown. Namif and young individuals are missing. The ability to fly Chinese mantis fees only after several lines.

  • Mantis Creobrot Meleagriswidely distributed on the territory of Bhutan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan and other countries belonging to the South Asian region. Adults can reach 5 centimeters in length. The main color of the body of the mantis cream or white. All over the body, head and legs pass different widths of light brown strips. Overcrowders and conntion painted into olive green tones.

  • Mantis Creobroter Gemmatus.which is also called indian Floral Bogomol, is a typical inhabitant of wet forests of India, Vietnam and other countries of South Asia. The female males of this kind of Bogomol reaches the length of 38 mm, the females are larger and grow up to 40 mm. The body of the insect is elongated, and the width of the concession is noticeably less than its length. The hips have several spikes of different heights. The body is painted in cream tones with brown or greenish spots.

  • Mantis Pseudocreobotra Wahlbergii.lives in areas with hot and humid climates. Other unofficial names of this insect - sniff or spiny flower mantis. This species dwells in the countries of South and East Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, as well as in Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion. The dimensions of adults are quite modest. The length of the females does not exceed 40 mm, and males - 30 mm. The color of these mantoms is heterogeneous - it combines white, cream, pinkish, yellow and green tones.

  • Orchidogo Mantis (Lat. Hymenopus Coronatus)distributed in the tropical forests of India, Malaysia and Indonesia. This insect is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the detachment. It was received for the external similarity with orchid flowers, on which he hides waiting for his victim. The hawk female of the mantomol has a rather impressive size and grows up to 80 mm long. The size of males is much more modest and does not exceed 40 mm. A distinctive feature of this species is the wide front limbs, a small head and filamentous mustache.

  • Mantis idolomantisdiabolica,which is also called Chour floweror Devil's flower, It dwells in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and other countries of East Africa, where she lives on branches of shrubs and trees. Adult mantis of this species have rather large sizes. The females can reach the length of 14 cm when the wing length is about 16 cm. The males of the Bogomol on the dimensions are slightly fewer females and rarely exceed a length of 11 cm. The color of these insects can vary from different shades of green to light brown. The spikes located on the hips of the front paws have a different length. Between long spines are visible three shorter.

  • Eastern heterochlet (lat. HeteroChaeta orientalis),which also has an unofficial name ship-eyed mantisit lives in most Africa countries. The female of the mantis reaches 15 cm long. The males are smaller and grow up to 12 cm. Due to the fact that these insects live in the branches of shrubs, their appearance has unusual features that give them similarities with bits or branches. In addition, these African marsomol spits are located not only on the hips and the heads of the front limbs, but also in the upper edges of the head having a triangle shape. Thanks to this, it seems that the eyes of the insect as if wrapped around these barns.

  • Mantis Empusa Pennata.- A view from the Empus region, which is distributed almost throughout Africa, in most Asian countries, as well as in Portugal, Spain and Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Greece, in Malta and Cyprus. A distinctive feature of a mantomole is a kind of high grown on the head, resembling a kind of crown. The males mustache the Great type, and the heads are crowned with additional spikes that are like feathers. The color of the mantis depends on the environment and can change. For these insects, green, yellow or pink colors are characteristic, as well as various shades of brown.

  • Mantis Phyllocrania.paradoxa. Lives in rather arid areas of Africa, located south of the Sahara desert, as well as on the island of Madagascar, where shrubs and trees live in the branches of shrubs and trees. Due to the peculiar body shape, resembling a leaf of the plant, it is easily able to hide from natural enemies and successfully hunting small insects. Such a disguise ensures special increases on the body and head of the mantis.

  • Muntomole Metallyticus.splendidus. Inhabit India, Malaysia on Sumatra and in other countries of Southeast Asia. Huft to prey in the branches of trees or shrubs, as well as under wood bark. The female males of the mantomole can reach the length of about 2 cm. The females are slightly larger and grow long up to 3 cm. The body of these insects is slightly flattened toward the back of the abdomen.

  • Mantis Ameles.spallanziania. Widespread in Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, San Marino, Greece. The habitat of this species also includes Cyprus, Malta and other countries in Southern Europe and North Africa. The dimensions of these insects are rather modest, and the length of males rarely exceeds 1 cm, and the females can reach the length of 3 cm. It is also possible to distinguish a male person from the female in the presence of wings.

  • Mantis Blepharopsismendicawhich also has an unofficial name thistle mantis, It is found in Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and other countries of North Africa and the southwestern part of Asia. These insects live in deserted, as well as mountainous areas. The males in size are slightly fewer females, which can reach a length of 5.2-6.1 cm. In addition, males mustache have a comb structure.

  • Mantis Rhombodera Basalisit dwells in the tropical belt of Malaysia, Thailand and India. Adult females can grow up to 8-9 cm long, males have a little smaller dimensions. A characteristic feature of the mantis is a slightly enlarged conntion, resembling rhombus. Insect body and poppywall painted in turquoise green colors with blue tint.

  • Bogomol Sarawak / Hestiasula Sarawaka. The Sarabawarian Bogomole, inhabitants in the island of Kaliman, in addition to the awesome protective posture, publishes specific sounds. This mantile has all parts of the body visible from above at rest, have a gray or brown color. With irritation, the insect spreads the front legs and takes towards both pairs of wings.

  • Malaysian Least Bogomol (Lat. Deroplatys Dessicata)widespread both in the tropical forests of Malaysia or Indonesia, and in wet thickets on Sumatra and Borneo. The females of the Malaysian leafoidal mantis in size are much superior to men's individuals. Their length can reach 15 cm, while males grow up to 6 cm. Good disguise abilities, this species has a particular form of head and bodies that give him similarity with Zhaul Foliage.

  • Mantis Deroplatys Lobata.it dwells in wet forests of Malaysia, as well as in the tropical thickets on the islands Borneo and Sumatra. Prefers to hunt in the foliage of trees or small shrubs, as well as in their feed roots. In appearance, these insects are strongly reminiscent of the faded leaves, which serves them not only with a beautiful disguise, which protects against enemies, but also helps to hide and wait for prey.

  • Mantis Aethhalochroa Insignis.it dwells in India. This is a very large insect, the length of which is 15-20 cm, including the mustache. An excellent camouflage of the mantis makes it look like a dry stink.

Lifestyle

Bogomol lives and hunts as a typical "sucking". The predator freezes until the moment the victim does not turn out to be within reach. He grabs prey with the front legs and begins to eat from the head. The males are careful in choosing hunting objects, they attack flies, locust and other small insects. Large females often attack victims practically equal to them in size. Aggressive individuals attack lizards, birds, frogs. They jump on the back of the reptile and bite the head. The fight lasts a few minutes, in the process the hunter can become a victim. With a successful outcome, production is eaten for 2-3 hours. The female remains up to 4-5 days.

You can meet Mantisreligiosa in the forest, steppe dispersion, in the meadow. Insects do not avoid even major cities where they adapted to live in the grass, parks and gardens. Favorite habitats of mantis ordinary high trees and shrubs. Insects prefer a settling lifestyle. They do not leave the usual territory, move between tiers. Four limbs are used for movement, less often wings.

With sufficient food, they spend all their lives on one plant. Insects have excellent vision, they catch the slightest movement in the environment. Camouflage color allows you to get closer to mining. Hunting occurs during the daytime. All soft fabrics are eaten by the production, chitinic legs and wings remain. How much the mantis ordinary lives depends on the number of food and gender. The age of females is longer, on average, representatives of the species in natural conditions live 2-3 months. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.

Food

Mantis - predatory insects. They caught their victims with strong front legs covered with sharp spikes. A mantis, who spends prey with "humbly" folded front legs, is slightly reminded of a praying person - hence the name of insects. The female of the Bogomols is larger, voracious and aggressively males. The males feed on the main insects mainly, and huge females often attack even such relatively large animals, like lizards, frogs and birds.

Reproduction

People have observed more than once, as during or after mating, they kill and eat their partners. In fact, in most cases, the pairing of insects is normally. And if the female eats the male, it makes it "on forgetfulness", taking him to the way being touched by the victim. The fact is that when the female develops eggs, its body requires an additional amount of protein and at this time it becomes especially voracious.

Before pairing the male mantis makes an intricate dance in front of the female and sends it the odorless signal, highlighting special substances into the air. This helps him at least somehow secure his life: otherwise, the female would certainly take him for her skitting prey.

After mating, the female of the mantomole postpones several dozen eggs. But before that, it builds special "bags" from the foam protein material - Ootkee \u200b\u200bfor them. The foam fluid produces special glands in the insect abdomen. Initially, the female attaches a lump of foam to a tree branch. While the foam is wet and soft, it places several small cameras in it and postpones one egg to each chamber. After some time, the foam in the air is frozen and turns into a durable material resembling polystyrene. Ootheki protect eggs from adverse external influences: they withstand a negative temperature and are not destroyed from pesticides.

The larvae (nymphs) raised from eggs (nymphs) of the mantomole is chosen from Ootkee \u200b\u200bthrough the sole hole on its top. The larvae of the Bogomolov is very similar to adult insects, but deprived of the wings. Nymphs of some Bogomolov live in nests and disguise to ants.

Enemies of the Bogomolov.

When attacking the enemy (snakes, birds, bats or chameleon) or having met with a relative-rival mantis tries to scare the enemy. They take a pretty frightening position by placing the wings fan, putting forward the front grabbing paws and turn up the end of their abdomen. Such a pose can be complemented by threatening sounds. For example, the Saravak Bogomol (Lat. Hestiasula Sarawaka) loudly rustles with wings and makes closple, created by contacting the upper part of the forefinder with the thigh. If the enemy turns out to be much stronger, the mantis prefers to be returned and flies away, however, seeing its advantage, bravely opposes the enemy and often turns out to be a winner in a similar fight.

Mantis and man

For example, the view is widespread that the mantis kills only "harmful" insects, but it is not. Mantis with equal hunting is taking place, for example, honey bees and garden pests.

There are about 1,800 species of the Bogomolov. Two types are widespread in the United States - the brought Chinese mantis, a length of 8-13 cm, and the local Caroline mantis, reaching 5 cm long. Scientists disagree in opinions on how to classify insect families Mantidae.. Some group them with other insects in a detachment Dictyoptera. Others put them in a separate detachment - Mantodea..

Evolutionists argue that mantis evolved from the same ancestor as cockroaches, but it is based on faith, and not on the observed and verified evidence.

After the mandatory tribute of the evolution is given, most scientists are admired by the amazing design of the mantomol. For example, with respect to the lightning speed and the strong muscles of the front paws of the mantomole, the researchers use such words as: "Excellent equipped with", "complex set", and that "their front legs are surprisingly constructed."

In the USA, they are used limited in gardens in the cultivation of environmentally friendly fruits. In general, the state of this group of insects is prosperous. Such species like spotted iris, striped emission and short-fledged Bolivaria are made to regional red books.

The content of the Bogomols at home

Terrarium

A very exotic and unusual act will be to have a home mantom family, right? Nevertheless, there are people who have such pets and if you also want to join them, then the first thing you have to take care is a terrarium. It is suitable for a relatively small, glass or plastic terrarium with a mesh lid, its sizes should at least three times to exceed the size of the mantis itself. Inside it would be nice to place twigs or small plants for which a mantis will climb aki on trees.

Temperature

Mantis - thermal-loving insects, so that the optimal temperature for them will be from +23 to +30 C. Special heaters for terrariums can be applied.

Humidity

Also do not forget about humidity, which is also important for these insects. Optimal humidity for the Bogomol is 40-60% and it is possible to put a small container with water inside the terrarium to maintain it.

What to feed the mantis at home?

Living food. Crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, flies are perfectly suitable. Some kinds of Bogomolov will not mind to enjoy ant. And they need to feed with all this regularly, so that containing such pets may be somewhat troublesome. But it is not necessary to eat the mantoms, since the necessary organism is liquid they get from food.

Mantis - predatory insects, isolated to the eponymous detachment of the Badmole, with 2853 species. With its unusual name, they are not obliged by an angelic nature, but a special hunting position in which they fold the front legs in a pose of a praying person.

Flower feathers (Idolomantis Diabolica) - this mantis got its name for sinister appearance.

The dimensions of these insects range from 1 to 11 cm. The appearance of the Bogomol can be very different, however, all species of these insects can be found common features. They are characterized by a small, movable head of a triangular shape and a narrow body with long, with the joint limbs that give them similarity with grasshoppers or choppers. But from the point of view of the systematics with grasshoppers, there is nothing in common, the ladies can be considered only by their long-distance relatives, and truly fraternal bonds associate these insects with cockroaches.

In many of the Bogomols, like this cennata (Empusa Pennata), branching mustaches. They can be straight or spin in a canopy spiral.

Mantis are pretty thermal-loving, so the greatest diversity was reached in the tropics and subtropics, only a few species penetrated into a moderate zone, and in the cold climate they try to excite the most heated biotopes: steppes and sudidal meadows. But in the tropics of Bogomolov can be found in wet forests, and in rocky deserts. These insects are active mainly in the bright time of the day, since they tracked their prey. Badges never pursue their sacrifice: like spiders, they are typical sucking, ready for a day to sit in one place waiting for a careless komashki. In this regard, the overwhelming majority of these insects developed a patronage color, and some are even a special form of the body. For example, in the species living in a thick grasshum, a straight torso green or brown-motley color resembles a bladder or a dry wand ...

at species living in the rainforest, it is green with lateral growth and looks like a leaf ...

Herododis Steel (Choerododis Stalii) even tiny spots imitate natural leaf damage.

the tropical mantoms that arrange an ambush on colors, the abdomen becomes a curved shape, and on the legs there are flat blades that imitate flower petals.

Orchidogo mantis change painting with age: young individuals white, adult pink.

Orchidogo mantis is indistinguishable from the flower on which it lives.

In this parade of camouflage costumes, a rare exception is a bright mantis, whose covers are cast by the metal glitter of all shades of the rainbow.

The difference in the color of two bright Bogomolov (Metallyticus Splendidus) is explained by the different angle of refraction of light.

Like other insects, the Bogomol has wings: more rigid front (hopper) and transparent rear, used for flight. Occasionally, there are short-fledged or completely loony species (mostly deserted).

Eremiaphila Baueri (Eremiaphila Baueri) is one of the poorly studied species.

Some mantis use wings to protect, in case of danger, they suddenly widespread them and thus scare the potential enemy. Accordingly, such insect wings have an intricate drawing.

African barbed mantis (Pseudocreobroad Occellata).

Mantis, devoid of such useful protection guns, resort to the old, well-proven method, namely, in the face of danger, stand in an aggressive "hunting" pose. If it did not help, the mantis flies or, on the contrary, rushes on the offender and bites him. Some species are capable even hiss.

This mantis fits until the last, but the forces are too unequal.

The enemies of the Bogomol are birds, chameleons, snakes. But they themselves are not flashed. Mantis are very voracious and in a few months of life have time to destroy several thousand insects the size of the Tsley to the grasshopper, and sometimes they even eat on vertebrate animals. Cannibalism for them is the norm of life, and he sometimes appears at the most unexpected moment. It has long been noticed that after mating, a larger female of the mantis often snacks his chosen one, in exceptional cases, it proceeds to this non-resident occupation still in the process of love merits. To reduce the risk of being eaten, the male before mating performs a ritual dance that helps a female to distinguish a partner from mining and set it up on a peace-loving way.

Bogomol caught a little Geckon.

The reproduction of tropical mantis occurs all year round, the types of moderate belt fall in the fall. On the grass stems, twigs of trees, poles, boards (less often in the sand) The female postpones from 10 to 400 eggs with several portions. It immerses each laying into a frothy mass, which, when frozen, forms a capsule - Ootek. The same capsules are of cockroaches. Depending on the substrate, the ootek may be sand, gray or brown. Eggs ripen in it from 3 weeks to 6 months, in the species of moderate zone, it is the eggs that are the wintering life stages.

Ootka mantis.

Mantis relatives relate to insects with incomplete transformations, so their larvae, called nymphs, the form of the body is similar to adult individuals, only uncultivated. Nymphs are insatiable, so they grow rapidly, in the process of growing, they have time to overflow from 9 to 55 times. In general, the life expectancy of the Bogomolov does not exceed 1 year.

Nymph orchidogo mantis mimicrates for ant.

People have long paid attention to the militant temper of these insects, in their honor, even called one of the styles of the Chinese wrestling. Now the mantis are among the most popular insects for maintenance in home insectors. In addition, thanks to their voraciousness, they are also useful in agriculture. True, along with troubles, flies and grasshoppers, mantis can attack useful insects. In the USA, they are used limited in gardens in the cultivation of environmentally friendly fruits. In general, the state of this group of insects is prosperous. Such species like spotted iris, striped emission and short-fledged Bolivaria are made to regional red books.