The European Mantis (Mantis religiosa), also commonly known as the praying mantis, is a large hemimetabolic insect in the family of the Mantidae (‘mantids’), which is the largest family of the order Mantodea (mantises). The name 'praying mantis' comes from the distinctive posture of the first pair of legs that resembles a praying attitude on mantises in repose. Both males and females have elongated bodies with two pairs of wings. The most striking features that all Mantodea share are a very mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes and their first pair of legs (the ‘raptorial legs’) which is highly modified for the efficient capture and restrain of fast moving or flying prey.
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