Praying+Mantis

**Common Name:** Praying Mantis **Scientific name:** //Aconstica amazonica// **Phylum:** Arthropoda **Class:** Insecta **Location:** North and South America, South Africa, Europe, the Southern parts of Asia and some parts of Australia (the ones that are in North America are generally a green/brown). **Size:** about 2-5 inches is average. However, the largest recorded was 6 inches long. **Description of Habitat:** Tropical, Subtropical, and warm climates throughout the world. **Living Requirements:** The Praying Mantis should have an area that has many twigs in order to allow it to blend into its surroundings. It also needs a warm climate **Life cycle of the Animal:** After mating, the female will lay up to 400 eggs in the autumn, in a liquid called an "ootheca"(this turns into a hard shell of protection). This is how these insects survive during the wintertime. Once they hatch, they eat their first meal (which happens to be a sibling). They usually live for one year to 14 months.  **Male and Female Difference?** You can tell by the segments of the abdomen. males have 8. Females have 6. -Their name means Prophet or Soothsayer. -Their color varies according to their habitat. -The posture it has when it is hunting for food makes it look like it's praying (hence, Praying Mantis)  **Human Impact:** Humans that have knowledge that the praying mantis wont hurt them don't generally harm them. The Praying Mantis doesn't bite humans and actually keeps away a lot of other bugs. [] [] [] [] []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fun-Filled Facts: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Information and Picture Sources:(Zookeeper: Paige Ryder) **