The Insane Biology of: The Praying Mantis

[@inertia314]

Always raised them as a kid, and have been BEGGING the internet for a high quality video about them for 23 years now. THANK YOUUU!! They’re such a unique and special organism!

[@jessicahay9305]

They have the most beautiful color variation of any insect imo.

[@jefism]

Ze Frank- True Facts about the Mantis.

[@borysnijinski331]

You could have made the video yourself.

[@inertia314]

@@jefismYeah I’ve watched it, but its not the same. It just talks about the well known facts mostly, and this talks about breakthrough knowledge. Love both tho!

[@inertia314]

@@borysnijinski331dude I was a literal child😂 “begging” isn’t literal.

[@matthewdebeer8453]

The colour changing based on ambient humidity levels is insane to me. Evolution is freaking awesome

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

It really is! I’m constantly surprised & fascinated by all the tricks it devises.

[@bikesrcool_1958]

So much so I’m a theistic evolutionist at the moment. ✝️ 🐻 🌱 🐞 🌺

[@blakemcmillan5680]

@@bikesrcool_1958I hope you don’t mind me asking, and you don’t have to answer, but what is your current belief of the theistic evolution? Like I know many believe that God created evolution with the end goal of what we see now and all past species were just stepping stones to what God wanted.

[@KaitouKaiju]

​@@mross8792Agreed, Chauntea did a damn good job

[@sunl1ghtsword171-e9m]

@@mross8792 Designed over 2400 of them, huh? He really cut the work out for Noah making him store thounsands of them on the ark

[@danthomas6587]

For any garden enthusiast finding mantis egg cases happens with some regularity. You can cut above and below the egg casing to reposition it where you expect to have insect problem areas. The baby mantids erupt from the casing by the hundreds and are only about as large as your pinky finger nail, fully formed and cute as a button they'll start eating aphids or other small insects right away. Seeing the babies emerge is something you won't soon forget.

[@tracesmith4966]

Your so lucky to have this experience. I live in north western Ontario Canada. We don't have them here.

[@RSMoreno]

Forgot to mention: my parents bought that house in the 70s and pretty much stopped gardening around 2000 due to old age (they had me in their 40s). I would help out around the house around this time and it was sad when I noticed the lack of ladybugs and mantises 😢

[@tracesmith4966]

@RSMoreno it's funny you should mention that...I live in a seniors apt and we've been cautioned with fines if we keep feeding the deer This summer NO flys...NO mosquitoes...NO birds. Seems without the the deer passing through here 4x a day...we've lost lots of wild life. It's been discovered evolution can happen way quicker than we believe. Anole's can change their feet,legs and tails within a 2 years of a new area to live. It's fascinating. But it leaves a pit in your stomach realizing how humans won't change...and climate and wildlife will always adapt to what is given. I miss my huge garden and all the bugs too.

[@dr.oobleck2317]

I keep finding them in my yard, I picked up one for the first time last year. It was massive, one of the only insects I've clearly felt the weight of in my palm. It was calm, docile and didn't seem to mind being handled. Love them little killers. Very happy that they are as small as they are, we'd be in trouble otherwise.

[@steveh8724]

As anyone who watched the movie ALIENS can attest...

[@VV-or8es]

Yup. They are harmless to humans and they kill some of those bastards that are harmful. They are a welcome guest in my house when I am staying in my wife´s country Benin in West Africa...

[@FarmerClarence]

I just encountered my first one today, and I was surprised how chill they were with being handled. I always assumed they would be kind of defensive, or at least painful to hold because of their spines, but the one I handled didn't even hurt when it crawled on my face. I've admired them for a long time, but actually encountering one in the wild has resparked my interest.

[@damienkun8786]

​@@FarmerClarence one came to me while I was working & I took it home with me, found out it was a female since she laid a sac overnight. & She likes to chill on my hand.. but your face !? Tf Noooo

[@FarmerClarence]

​@damienkun8786 I took one home from work, and I fed them a grasshopper yesterday. It was a bit gruesome, but very entertaining. Glad you appreciated my profile pic.

[@timothygrulke1308]

Its more fascinating how they interact with us humans. The ones I have encountered were all easily trained to not see me as a threat to them, and non of them ever attacked my fingers. They also seem to have slight differences in personalities, regardless of gender, some are more aggressive, passive, bold, timid etc. One boy was particularly fond of climbing/jumping/flying onto noses specifically. Have you ever had a mantis drink droplets from your finger? I have. One time i had one go into my cuticle while drinking, and it did indeed slice into me with its mouth parts. It was indeed a sharp cutting type pain. and the mantis seemed to know what it did, as it stopped immediately (if you've seen a mantis eat, you know they don't stop once the take in food) and never tried again. I have kept many as pets, but eventually stopped as their short lives resulted in too many heartbreaks- seeing one that's lived well past its live span struggling like an old human is heart wrenching. Fun fact, they only need to mate once, and they will continue to produce eggs several times from that, as i discovered when taking in some girls from the wild.

[@veebee3837]

There's something very unsettling seeing a small stick insect devouring a frog that's 50x its weight...

[@ConcreteLand]

I agree. Impressive but a bit chilling at the same time.

[@michaelbarnard8529]

Seems like there should be a horror movie based on it.

[@Smkpt42]

​@@michaelbarnard8529 all bugs, if the size of a medium dog - would be a horror. Dragonflies swooping children at 98% accuracy.

[@kirbyhh1392]

People seem to vastly underrate the weight and size of the mantis' abdomen. @12:30 you can see a mantis that eats a frog that weights like 20% more than the mantis itself. The other frogs and the lizard are smaller by weight than the mantis. The hummingbirds, becourse birds are very lightweight, are about half the weight of the mantis.

[@balsalmalberto8086]

@@michaelbarnard8529 There was a documentary about them.. After US raised false flag about them attack us from across the galaxy they were trying to defend their home from our attacks.

[@NgoTitat]

An important note: only around 2/3 of mantises are ambush hunters, the rest are considered general or cursorial hunters-species that are adapted for running & chasing down prey rather than just waiting for them.

[@themantisgarden]

Sphodromantis spring to mind! One of the best "chasers" in the game. I breed several species of them every year and always keep some myself as pets.

[@JeffreyAu1]

@@themantisgarden I had some Tarachadula Pantherina (Panther) mantids a few years ago. They didn't "wait" for their food to wander by either.

[@upsidedown9823]

tough insect

[@mwbrada]

Just recently observed a rather gorgeous green with brown Midwestern variety that was quite large, roughly 5 inches. It was resting on the gas pump I just pulled up to. I've noticed praying mantids at this gas station before in the daytime. They were on a white background (the pumps themselves) so clearly no discernible camouflage one would assume. Is it possible they were waiting for darkness and all of the other insects in the food chain attracted to the lights?

[@curivia]

"Sometimes the females attack when they're not yet sexually mature when the males approach them, which is a tactic that I think humans should employ too" Damnnnnn that casual but dope line drop. Nice.

[@kimpeater1]

Casual man-hating is everywhere and just accepted. No wonder male suicides are skyrocketing

[@j4s0n39]

It gives new meaning to the _To Catch a Predator_ series.

[@Dannnneh]

Best line of the video 😁

[@ChaosMagnet]

I love that comment. And fully agree with it!

[@SilentRacer911]

Absolutely, fully agree

[@Giganotus]

These guys are so cool. And I can confirm, those claws are strong! A Giant Shield Mantis I raised grabbed me on more than one occasion, and it was surprisingly difficult to wrench my finger out of his grasp. Incredible how much power is packed into such a small animal

[@OttoTheWeim]

I had 2 baby mantids (smaller than my fingernail) climb on me while gardening yesterday and one was green and one was brown. They very obviously came from the same brood. They are by far the coolest and most interesting insect. I love seeing them and will watch them for a long time when I come across them. They are always very docile.

[@FarmerClarence]

There seem to be a number of predatory animals that behave very gently around humans. I wonder whether it's because they just don't register people as prey. If they identified us as a potential threat, they would probably behave more defensively, so it really makes me question how a creature such as the mantis perceives humans.

[@WhiskeyDJones]

Isn’t the dragonfly the deadliest insect? Something like 98% hunt success rate

[@noidea796]

I appreciate you. Thought the same thing

[@nathankerr5619]

Mosquito still got the most bodies(kills)

[@ryanreedgibson]

Yeah, but they don't kill and eat mammals, birds and reptiles. Only mosquitoes, midges, flies, bees, butterflies, and other small insects. Sure, a hunt success is awesome but less so when you can easily overpower and consume your prey. Watch a P.M. eat the jaw off a lizard, or consume a mouse, and I bet it would change your mind.

[@viaxxl]

dragonfly the 🐐

[@__-be1gk]

Not the first time these guys have glossed over facts on an "educational" video

[@crablord7934]

I raised one from a stage 1 nymph as a kid. Finding food for her was definitely super challenging early on, but I figured out some tricks. I let her back out into the wild after she became an adult. Hope her descendants are still going strong these days.

[@themantisgarden]

Now imagine feeding a thousand of them every day for 7 days a week 😆 I spend half my work-life making up fruit fly cultures and feeding roaches lmao

[@couldyou_dont]

​@themantisgarden what's your job? I mean, I can kinda tell a bit from your username that it might have something to do with bugs, but I'm curious as to what kinda job would have you doing things like that

[@royalpurple7655]

​@@themantisgardenI grow marijuana and have a big problem with spider mites. Do they eat spider mites? If so would it work if I let some of them loose in my garden?

[@poulthomas469]

Years and years ago I watched a very large Praying Mantis catch and eat a Hummingbird. People think 'Bird' and assume it's too big or too much but Hummers are just so delicate. There are insects that weigh more than they do.

[@conanhighwoods4304]

It is possible it was the same or heavier than the mantis unlessit was a very small species or chick, insects tend to be light.

[@tracesmith4966]

Had no idea they could eat humming birds and frogs. Blows my mind...evolution has made this beautiful insect the top of the food chain...it has intelligents and in a fashion show....hands down winner.

[@mezanoken1492]

I try to feed my pet praying mantis a humming bird every day.

[@poindextertunes]

I never realized how small humming birds were till I saw one. then the speed of their wings made a lot more sense lol

[@poindextertunes]

@@mezanoken1492that must cost you a fortune in sugar water 🙄

[@mmancino1982]

Worked at a camp in the taiwanese jungle. We found so many varieties of mantids ranging from little bitty ones to massive ones. They are such a curious bug. We'd hold our hands out and they would willingly crawl up our hands and arms, sometimes just hanging out on our shoulders for long periods of time and gazing into our faces, tilting their heads like a curious puppy. They just seen to have higher intelligence than other bugs. Such a cool creature

[@damienkun8786]

Found one & had to take to make it a pet. These are too damn cool.

[@FoolStomper]

I have owned 5 mantises in my time. They are the only bug I’ve owned that has the ability to view the world the way we do. They asked me for help, food and to come out of their container. But what amazed me is they knew how to ask me to make me understand. When one wanted more food, it’d grab the carcass of its last meal, walk up to where my face was, take a few bites then drop it and stare at me. I had one that had a bad moult and it got stuck on the last section of their back left leg. I left it alone for 2 days. Day 3 I come back to it scratching the container then when I was paying attention climbing to the top of the container where it was opened from. When I opened it, it climbed on the rim, walked until it was looking away from me, then slapped the leg with the stuck moult on the side of the container before holding it in midair, pointing it at me. I grabbed hold and didn’t pull in the slightest, she pulled her leg out using me as resistance after asking me to grab on. Everything I read said they are dumb bugs, everything I experienced told me science is arrogant and anything that observes the world the same way we do can understand empathy

[@christophergreen6103]

You're an inspiring narrator and storyteller. The adjectives and wordplay you're using are exceptional. I love how enthusiastic and colorful your language is. Phrases like 'a dazzling display of evolution' are just one of your quotational gems.

[@humanspoder777]

"Man what's with the glasses? Why am I glued to the floor?" -That one Mantis going through all the tests.

[@hopkapi]

"This insect cake they promised me better not be a lie"

[@LuisSierra42]

@@hopkapi The cake is a lie

[@CrimsonA1]

Like an alien abduction 👽

[@AustralianOpalRocks]

At least they didn't make a tiny set of ridiculous 2024 New Years glasses 🥸

[@AustralianOpalRocks]

The flier said there'd be punch and pie

[@socialus5689]

They always look like they've just been caught doing something they shouldn't.

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

“I was just praying I swear! Anyway where was I… ahem. Dear lord mantis Jesus. Please protect my boyfriend. My big, fat delicious boyfriend. Please keep him nice and filling for our wedding night because I am STARVING!” Man-tis: Uh hehe. Ok thank goodness! Anyway babe do you uhh… wanna like, do it? “YES! I’ll go get the silverware!” Daaaang gurl you kinkayyy 😏😎

[@snowballeffect7812]

Yeah, but also like they don't GAF that they got caught.

[@avanelletheclockfriend2515]

Highly recommend looking up the snake mantis and going to images. The Tumblr blog onenicebugperday shared some pictures of one giving the side eye of the century. Another funky mantis I’m sad didn’t make it into the video is the aptly named iridescent bark mantis, which looks adapted to camouflaging in laser-light raves, or perhaps on very large and high-quality opals. They’re also very stubby. Truly one of the creatures of all time. Meanwhile, the Carolina mantis I cared for a couple years ago, Ipoaf(short for Illegal Possession of a Firearm) always looked like she was smiling just because of how she tended to hold her palps. Like a near constant :> face. I miss her, she was awesome, I found her as a little green thang with pink accents during probably her fourth or fifth instar, and she immediately stole my heart by doing a silly little pose. Lived outside on my rock rose plant(that uh. Unfortunately isn’t alive anymore due to Texas-flavored bad weather, rip Tax Fraud) until I moved her inside to a terrarium(due to the aforementioned bad weather and also getting too attached to want to leave her to the elements) and always really chill. Just vibed when I brought her to show my economic entomology class once(as a student, of course, I am not professor material), never tried to bite me even when I had to kinda manhandle her to remove some ants once, and accepted offerings of grasshoppers from my fingers rather than requiring tongs or the like. The worst she did was threat pose at a cricket I offered her once and be picky about what grasshoppers she’d eat, and outright refused caterpillars even when they were species I’d seen other mantises eating. Also did once catch a dragonfly, take a few bites, then fling it onto the ground. Which attracted ants. Thanks Ipoaf, very cool. She ended up passing the Halloween before last, under her favorite perch, chonky and a mother of four oothecas. I actually raised one of the babies that emerged- her name was Green Bean Casserole. GBC was a bit spicier, and actually had a wonky sub-adult molt that she thankfully survived and recovered from; no lost legs or wings, just a severe hunchback, it didn’t prevent her from eating but had impacted her hunting ability so I’m glad I managed to habituate her to the ol’ skewer feeding method. Never did trust my fingers though. Unfortunately unlike her mother I never succeeded in finding a mate for her, so I can’t confirm the continuation of Ipoaf’s lineage…

[@romarisrogers8005]

They remind me of cats for some reason lol

[@ethanstyant9704]

Probably murder

[@FieldGuideJordi]

Amazing video, super informative 🙏🏻 Thank you for including my video of the praying mantis killing the frog, awesome to see my video ok such a cool platform.

[@vampireraef]

Ive always been a preying mantis fan. Thanks scyther

[@adanishguy1987]

You get the same sensation of being observed back when you observe jumping spiders. They are the only spiders I've witnessed looking back at me that directly, they're really cool. I love preying mantises too though.

[@catcando1131]

We have a jumping spider with a nest on our pouch. We call her Bitty Poop. We talk to her all the time, feed her bugs, and she has a sign that says leave her alone. She will actually climb up to us and just look at us. I love her so much.

[@randallbesch2424]

@@catcando1131 humans are eldritch monstrosities to them. We are mountain sized to those spiders.

[@frankG335]

I had a friend who could always tell if ANY spider was in the room because she could feel them. She was always right and always knew where to look! This tells me there are senses we don't yet understand.

[@Cat-tastrophee]

I agree, I've always gotten the sensation that when either a jumping spider or preying mantis turned to look at me, they were looking RIGHT AT ME. It's exhilarating, humbling, and a little bit terrifying. That alone has earned my undying reverence.

[@kekeke8988]

@@Cat-tastrophee Imagine what they would do to your face if the mafia caught you and forced your face into a box with a bunch of mantises.

[@erf3176]

Mantis: Oh, lord. Bless this prey I'm about to receive. And bless my mate, who passed away recently.

[@TKUA11]

Yeah these guys don’t live by the Ten Commandments

[@bikesrcool_1958]

Good thing praying mantis are not rational beings silly little things

[@stefthorman8548]

@@TKUA11 nether are some Christians(mostly Catholics), who are supposed to be compelled to follow them.

[@Lambda_Ovine]

@@TKUA11 they have their own set of ten commandments

[@sallyrutledge4726]

Good one... Took me a minute ....then I cracked up !

[@ozzyosbourne6]

I've seen 20 cm mantis in my backyard. I live in Türkiye and they exist. Eventough they are rare you can find them in aegean region. It's so cool to see one of them in real life because you feel like you see some kind of a dinosaur.

[@randallbesch2424]

Far older than dinosaurs.

[@Brinta3]

​@@randallbesch2424 That's not true. Dinosaurs existed before praying mantises.

[@erikarussell1142]

Can we just talk about how informative and how well made this video is? Amazing. Such a marvel of a creature. I love mantids.

[@mikebaker9574]

Great information!

[@pokezodia]

This was such an amazing and well-made documentary. Loved it! Thanks for creating this!

[@teuth]

i know their pupils are an optical illusion but you really can feel the eye contact sometimes with these guys

[@KaitouKaiju]

Oops all eye contact

[@jcepri]

They've evolved to make you believe it's an optical illusion.

[@Tattootin]

@@jcepriwhich in turn is an illusion to trick you all along to un trick you believing you have retained eye contact.

[@Tattootin]

@@KaitouKaijuimagine if we all had this going for on. Arguments I cannot imagine. Or a pissy teenager…

[@timothygrulke1308]

You can when they face directly at you, and even do a little sway or wabble because that is how they get the 3d layout of your face. I had a pet boy mantis who was very fond of perching on noses, and was very good at locating and either flying onto them or climbing down/ up to them.

[@justnotes2583]

Yooo, 40 minutes of Real Science lets goo

[@ShanePKing]

I can’t believe I watched this entire video and didn’t know it was longer than 10 mins until I read this comment. Well done Steph. I’m still going to watch it again on Nebula though - why break a habit.

[@Sepi-chu_loves_moths]

​@@ShanePKing I was just about to comment basically the same thing lol

[@flaliber4thewinxO]

⁠@@ShanePKing same here

[@jcepri]

yay, SCIENCE!

[@PushyPawn]

Stephanie made this video to distract everyone from asking her: "Where is your husband??"

[@Vetrarland]

😂

[@Photo_doctor]

I had a gf Stepani. An online wh0 re

[@kostibulished]

He took a trip to FLAVORTOWN.

[@landonfolken03]

They eat birds, and frogs and husbands...

[@davegoud]

Great....now all day I will have Hall and Oates "maneater" song in my head...

[@38dragoon38]

The drinking straw explanation for a mantis's "pupil" was genius! Thank you! 😊

[@ShannonJosephGlomb]

all of this and everyone that made it is amazing especially all the mantises :)

[@matdob7677]

"My boyfriend, now husband", then says mantis will eat their "boyfriends". Thank God you got married.

[@dandandan18]

She can still "eat" him tho

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

Well I haven't seen a mantids wrong, did you? Jk

[@bg3841]

​@@4124V4TA-SNPCA-xLook... I may have mantits, but that doesn't automatically make me a homosexual cannibal.

[@user-ke1gn3ql1g]

He barely made it

[@user-ke1gn3ql1g]

​@@dandandan18 I really didn't need that thought in my head

[@leafy126.5]

Had a pet mantis i let go after he had his final moult. Before i let him go, i fed him some honey off my finger. I felt the shearing ability of its mandibles myself, when it tried biting my finger after running out of honey. It didnt dig deep enough to hurt, but it easily sheared off the first layers of skin

[@sonkeschluter3654]

And so crated the human eating mantis.

[@kingghidorah8106]

@@sonkeschluter3654 not the first case. The last mantis I've raised was an old female that lasted til November 17th 2021 since i found her in september 1st. I would feed her my own blood after she would vomit the cultivation crickets i bought her when the countryside ran out of live prey. Blood is hydrating and has a direct nutrient supply that doesn't need breakdown. It really kept her stronger for two weeks (feeding her a little blood every day) til she peacefully died in my hand.

[@mommayp8353]

@@kingghidorah8106 um ok...

[@FieryCoal]

@@kingghidorah8106I love insects. Love them a ton. But don’t love them that much.

[@kingghidorah8106]

@@FieryCoal she's been a sweetie and completely aware of who's cool and who's not. She would sit on my right shoulder like a pirate's parrot all day long but if someone approached her she would square up, not even threat display just attack no bite😭 she even recognized herself in the mirror as she would ignore the reflection instead of attacking or signaling. Other mantids would take more time to realize. It started getting real bad when she rejected water and due to dehydration the legs lost the claws and I had to keep waking up at night the moment I heard her fall off the fabric grid to place her back on the moss bed that lets her stay upside down while neither hanging nor feeling her weight on her back. She died looking at me.

[@hungryluma27]

“Why didn’t you intervene to help the environment” DUDE IT NATURALLY HUNTS THE BIRDS?! What is this person even on about

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Yeah, that pissed me off as well

[@larquefausse3623]

Some people don't like the murder-roach...

[@Blackwing2345635]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 the worst I saw in person - some tourists tried to shoot a hawk , that got a gull, with an air gun. The gull was already severely injured when they noticed and started shooting, so they didn't really help it + lightly injured the hawk. Like, why? The prey is not your livestock or endangered species, ecosystem at that place is quiet balanced, those gulls are stealing fish you are catching. Wanted a shooting range with excuse after a couple of bottles of beer? I was rafting with my dad and his friends when we saw it, one of interests of everyone on that trip was watching and photographing birds of this river, and we were unanimously annoyed with those guys.

[@stefthorman8548]

@@larquefausse3623 then why do they also like cats and dogs? which kills small animals in spades?

[@jimm7346]

If that happened in the US or Canada, they just committed a felony. It's super illegal to kill, harm, move the nest of any raptor species native to North America (hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, etc etc etc... all raptors are covered regardless of conservancy rating) or even attempt to kill/harm/scare them away with force in all of North America; the Birds of Prey Protection act makes it a federal felony in the US, and Canada has a zero tolerance policy with hefty fines and mandatory prison time as punishment for most situations. My boss had a red tailed hawk that nested in his backyard which would constantly attack him, his wife, and his dog anytime they went towards the corner of the yard where the nest was--and when he walked out with a shotgun + bird shot one day, his police officer neighbor called the local police; bossman was in danger of jail time despite just walking out *into his own backyard* with a shotty in case it swooped down at him again. Luckily, everything worked out in the end, but it was an eye opener.

[@DonRickyBaby]

Since I was about 6 yrs old, I love these critters and never feared them. I have my mom to thank for that. Once a tiny landed on my knuckles my mom said "look at it, it's looking at you. It can't harm you." I've always been on the lookout for them in the wild or put them in my plants for them to reside. These are intelligent insects.

[@gladiatorking2.0envoyofthe95]

An army of big praying mantises should be relocated to areas where giant hornets are as a form of pest control

[@FarmerClarence]

Interesting suggestion. I wonder how they would impact the rest of the ecosystem that they would be relocated to.

[@travisala8152]

About 11:56 she talks about how some of the mantid mimics (orchid mantis) being hyper successful at attracting pray, even better than the flowers themselves. Most flowering plants attract pollinators who fly. Mainly in two ways, one is by going further into ultraviolet as well as producing a shimmer. Then the other is by using "electrical fields" which can be used for communication/warnings, but when they have pollen to give they become negatively charged which some insects can visually see, others have ways of detecting these small changed often using tiny sensory hairs. I wonder if the mantid can use both of these systems against them. They don't make the orchid look much bigger

[@raajessahu6301]

thank you for the knowledge. \

[@maxwellpruner2168]

Can you please link a paper on this? Sounds fascinating and I'd love to learn more. Never heard of flowers using charge, that's wild!

[@buzz385]

I had an 8" wood model of a mantis in my garden. The garden was isolated, nobody ever went there. One day I saw a 3" real mantis sitting on the model. The next day the model was gone. They are eerily intelligent. Very cool animals. Excellent video thank you.

[@LutraLovegood]

Like gone gone? Did they eat it?

[@makatron]

Let's just be thankful that mantis don't grow the size of a dog, or we would be what's for lunch.

[@commando_spz5943]

I saw a jumping spider exhibiting similar behaviour once. I Queensland, Australia, we have a type of ant which lives in trees called the green ant. It's large and aggressive and has a distinctive green abdomen with a bronze body. I saw one that didn't look quite right, and on closer inspection I realised it was actually a jumping spider. I walked with the actual green ants, waving it's front legs in front of it's head to mimic antennas right into the ant's nest.

[@michaelbruns449]

If the cute little fascinating mantis insects were as big as we are our perceptions would instantly transform them into the horrifying homicidal monsters they actually are.

[@andrewvargas2473]

your science lab kitchin demonstations explanining how the praying matis eyes work is why I love your work.

[@Eskoteric]

I never knew Mantis's were this interesting. They are soooo awesome

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

Easily one of the most fascinating and cool insects and animals in general!

[@pinstripecool34]

Agreed!!!

[@bwlong]

I love these insects. And dragonflies. Hard core and hungry. Both are.

[@pinstripecool34]

Yea Dragonfiles are bad ass too!!!

[@Sorarixicaric]

I just love the fact they created 3d glasses for a praying mantis. Its oddly humbling, these little dudes are incredible. If we humans were as small as them. We would of never had a chance.

[@blessedbeauty2293]

- *I have to post my mantis videos. In Connecticut, it is illegal to hurt or kill a mantis bug*

[@vinny4411]

Yes. In fact 2 people have been arrested in the last 150 years ! 😢

[@Blanche-ranch]

You and Clint’s Reptiles releasing an insect video about mantids within minutes of each other has transported me back to being a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons 🥰

[@MrBlackSatellite]

Always enjoy this channel. Long enough with an interesting amount of information without being too long🙏🏼 thanks for all your hard work, especially the supporting techs and employees making this possible!

[@BrothermanBlue]

Locking eye w/ a Mantis has always been....odd. A wide range of thoughts and the crazy curiosity. Videos like this just increase that curiosity and add even more adoration into the mix. Love it =)

[@D-me-dream-smp]

With the massive eyes, insane rotation of their heads and particular way of moving Mantids are fascinating to watch. I’m also amazed and perhaps a little horrified at just how incredibly ravenously and quickly they are capable of consuming a substantial meal with a mouth that at first glance appears deceptively small and delicate.

[@shadbakht]

3:12 skip the intro

[@timp1970]

Kudos

[@lesleyhinsdale5636]

I was over the boyfriend part Just say mate goodness

[@GShumway132]

I'm in St George Utah, where there used to be tons of these things. But fast forward to today, and you hardly ever spot one. I'm concerned about them.

[@randallbesch2424]

You should we are seeing massive die backs of insects 60% - 80%.

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

This was utterly fascinating! Thank you and everyone else who was involved for taking the time to produce this beautifully made video. I've thought mantises were interesting for a long time, so I watched this video hungrily. Whenever there's a new Real Science video, I always make a beeline for it.

[@davegoud]

Knocked it out of park once again...always adding more, Cyclopsian ear...wow. The quality of these productions blows me away...Bravo!!!

[@robiocraft]

From any bug I’ve ever seen, Praying Mantis is the most humanoid one

[@SOC7]

I’m obsessed with your channel!! would love to see you do the insane biology of beavers!! I think they’re so cool and unique

[@janko1423]

I watched the praying mantis vs humming bird video. Since then i have respected those lil insects

[@artawhirler]

I can't wait to see the "praying mantis vs wild boar" video! 😅😅

[@PGinfinite]

Just discovered this channel, this is the most interesting video I’ve seen in a while. I was captivated and fascinated on my couch for 39:33 minutes. Thank you

[@bloodofjhezos]

Ever since you started the Insane Biology Of videos, I’ve been absolutely dying for one on the Praying Mantis! I haven’t even watched yet but THANK YOU I’m so excited 😭🫡🫶🏿

[@user-pn7wq9cl1g]

I'm currently designing an elven magitech mech whose 3D-camouflaged armor is inspired by the anatomy of mimicking mantids. This video has so much wonderful footage. I love it.

[@Jasmine-ue3lk]

it's 2:03 AM and i am fascinated by these praying mantis

[@batoolbu5054]

NEW INSANE BIOLOGY DROPPED LETSGGGOOOOOO

[@MrBlackSatellite]

One of the only creators I watch and wait for the drops🎉

[@TheKeviniraheta]

And its about Praying mantis which are sooo cool

[@Goldendeed]

7:10 cracked me up 😂

[@nolanpeters5462]

7:24 "Looks indistinguishable from a twig" Oh yeah he's got this. you can't even tell he's not a stick. Look at him. Clearly won't eat you

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

Anyone who read Daredevil by Miller knows a Stick can easily kill you. Even 3D vision isn't needed. :)

[@black-snow]

"Their ability to adapt to new situations on the fly". On the bug as well. And the frog. And bird ...

[@DraptorRonin]

I love how Mantids look like they're perpetually looking at you via Shaft Tilt, no matter the angle, no matter the context.

[@pinstripecool34]

They look like they are perpetually judging you! 😂😂

[@DraptorRonin]

@@pinstripecool34 *Mantis’s eyes creep back as its head bends at an awkward angle* “Oh, do you really believe that I’d be above eating his head?”

[@user-yt9ro7md2h]

The hummingbird thing is also a testament to how insane a murder hornets biology is. I’ve seen plenty of videos where a mantis had a really hard time keeping a big hornet locked in its grasp.

[@j4s0n39]

The mantis is clearly the first wave of an alien invasion. 😄

[@brechtvandebergh8336]

This is so cool, thanks for making this video!

[@dorphius_nl6334]

Thx for this very high quality content about these fascinating creatures.

[@juliepeterson6639]

Growing up in California, we just loved Praying Mantis. I moved to Washington State, knowing I’d probably never see one again. After a few years of helping a bit in my parents garden, we noticed the most beautiful bad-ass praying mantis’ I Ever had seen before. Occasionally, we still find them here, even though we have moved around. Lovely creatures.

[@Chasedtuna9]

Have you done one on Dragonflies? They are one of the few hunters out there that have a 90% success rate on predatory attacks due to their ability to predict movement and intercept their target in the air.

[@ArijanMolnar]

Interestingly, Clint from Clint’s reptiles just made a video about insects, which included mantises. Just a fun coincidence. Great video as always!

[@lasercraft32]

1:32 How can preying mantises eating birds be bad for the environment when they are literally PART of the environment???? Nobody cares when they eat bugs but heaven forbid when its a "cute widdle birdy." 😑 Birds have it great man, they can literally fly to escape most predators, they thrive quite well in cities , and humans give them free food for basically no reason other than birds being cool to look at. Meanwhile bugs get actively hated because they're "creepy" or "ugly" and killed on sight. Its like a poor person suing a rich person, and getting mad at the poor person for winning the court case. You can't get mad at predators for eating prey, its just part of nature.

[@lucasmendoza7576]

Fun fact about orchid mantises: They recently discovered that their flower petal-like femurs on their hindlegs aren't actually used in camoflage. As it turns out, they're actually aerofoils that are used in gliding like a flying squirrel. Ain't that crazy? Their femurs only look like flower petals by coincidence!

[@randallbesch2424]

They can have a double function.

[@willvan7685]

@@randallbesch2424 exactly, whatever helps it survive better than its fellows means it stays and gets more developed. shaped femurs for better jumping and gliding? that stays. vibrant coloration of said aerofoils for passive camouflage? that stays. more than likely though, one feature came first and then evolved its second use because they're close enough.

[@warren52nz]

Here in New Zealand I once saw a Praying Mantis fly about 3 metres and catch a Cicada about 3 times its weight when it landed! That's pretty good eyesight and I thought they only snuck up on things and grabbed them until I witnessed that.

[@jonimestas9692]

I have always love Praying Mantis. They fascinate me. They make a hone on my prayer garden. I am so blessed. Thank you for this post.

[@PseudoAccurate]

The only insect to see in 3D... It sounds like that would mean the only insect with depth perception, but that's obviously untrue. So what does it mean to see in 3D?

[@gormauslander]

It is wild and unhinged to me that there exists a mantis specifically for orchids.

[@randallbesch2424]

No it is called specialization.

[@hongchan1202]

My ex tried to eat me and I have been single ever since

[@Jellylamps]

Mantises are the truest ninjas of the animal kingdom

[@DaniellaFlame]

They make amazing pets! Having an amazing curiosity towards their owners and quirky personalities, all are unique ❤

[@ray4237]

THEY CHANGE COLOURSSSSS??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Yup. "Deadlist" insect. Now we're on it.

[@lil----lil]

I saw a hornet, yes, a hornet SMALLER than a mantis DESTROYED the mantis' forearms like it was nothing. Its large and extremely powerful mandible chewed RIGHT through the mantis like a piece of cookie. The mantis was in SHOCK. It "stood" there try to process "what is happening here" while the hornet devours his forearms and later, the body...👀👀💀💀

[@randallbesch2424]

A rather big horned eat it in two.

[@user-yt9ro7md2h]

Yeah I’d say murder hornets win just as much,if not slightly more out of all the videos I’ve seen. The times I saw the mantis win,it was usually a big strong one. The smaller mantids can’t seem to keep the hornets locked in place without getting stung or bitten

[@ElliottSalazar-s4n]

South Lake Tahoe in California ,... My first experience with these guys . Been ENAMORED with them ever since . They have more personality than most humans .

[@ashleyrodd8729]

Sorry, I appreciate you're new format. Guys. Everyone should be on Nebula. They changed the ruled but it's still worth it. I've been on it for years.

[@stevegonzales527]

idk bro.. she seems to really like the "eating boyfriends" phrase a little too much.

[@NavajoNinja]

Also the deadilest fighting style. 😊 "When learn. No can defend"

[@Abdi-libaax]

Justice for male mantis

[@2serveand2protect27]

Jeesus! ...not this sh** again...

[@AnimalAnalysisUS]

This was such an amazing and well-made documentary. Loved it! Thanks u

[@dreame4ter]

Loved the video, the editing, the narration, the writing... Just great content 😁

[@havebadday7850]

8:48 come at me brah

[@black-snow]

Is this real science? Can we use metric / SI units, please?

[@logandeluca1335]

marriage shaming is crazy.

[@WTIV-w2s]

the straw explanation was so clarifying, great work!

[@poughkeepsieblue]

I use them for pest control in my greenhouse. And ive kept one as a pet in an aquarium. They are awesome. And keeping them well fed is a challenge all its own for a man trying to catch bugs, so they can catch them.

[@Skull4uck]

LoL Run for Life !! 😂 For sure killing us next.. 😮

[@angelab8549]

Such a mesmerizing video! Congratulations, and thank you for making me admire this beautiful and scary creature beyond what I initially thought of them 💚

[@MrTazacolumbia]

Imagine if they are bigger than us. We will be in trouble

[@jaggerjohnson]

amazing video. beginning of the video i saw it was 40 minutes long i was like there will be no way i can get through 5 minutes of learning about praying mantis. but this video production was absolutely phenomenal and was such a well educating video. you truly deserve so much love for this video and to your channel

[@jaggerjohnson]

and the fact u put the ad at the end truly says so much about you. 👐🫶

[@Skeptical_Numbat]

It's an intriguing thought that Mantids are essentially the insect equivalent of Centaurs - using four limbs to walk / stand with, and a further two limbs to catch & hold prey with. This gives their upper body (head, torso, arms) a disturbingly anthropomorphic appearance, which, along with their sinister camouflage & startling burst of speed when seizing their prey, adds to the feelings of dread & outright terror that they arouse in humans...