The Insane Biology of: The Praying Mantis

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Thanks to Jordi Woerts for letting us use his incredible footage of the mantis eating the frog
/ @fieldguidejordi
www.jordiwoerts.com
Instagram: ( / jwwlphoto )
And thanks the Marjorie McBride for letting us use her clip of the praying mantis eating the hummingbird
Instagram: ( / marjorie_mcbride_photo... )
And thanks to Christopher Oufiero and the TU Mantis Lab
wp.towson.edu/coufiero/
And Jenny Read and Newcastle University
www.jennyreadresearch.com/
Links to my things:
( / realscience )
Instagram: ( / stephaniesammann )
Images Courtesy of Getty Images
Thanks to our Patreon Supporters:
Sasank Grandhi
Eric Ypsilantis
Robert Thompson
Keith Skipper
Credits:
Writer/Narrator: Stephanie Sammann
Writer: Lorraine Boissoneault
Editor: Dylan Hennessy (www.behance.net/dylanhennessy1)
Illustrator/Animator: Kirtan Patel (kpatart.com/illustrations)
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (www.moboxgraphics.com/)
Sound: Graham Haerther (haerther.net)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster ( / forgottentowel )
Producer: Brian McManus (watchnebula.com/realengineering)
REFERENCES
[1] passion-entomologie.fr/phylog...
[2] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymenop...
[3] www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi....
[4] Brackenbury, J. (1999). Flight and Wing Kinematics. In The Praying Mantids. The John Hopkins University Press.
[5] sci-hub.scrongyao.com/10.1111...
[6] Edmunds, M. (1999). Ethology of Defense Against Predators. In The Praying Mantids. The John Hopkins University Press.
[7] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
[8]
www.sciencedirect.com/science....
[9] royalsocietypublishing.org/do...
[10] bioone.org/journals/the-wilso...
[11] Yager, D. (1999). Hearing. In The Praying Mantids. The John Hopkins University Press.
[12] link.springer.com/article/10....
[13] www.researchgate.net/figure/S...
[14] journals.biologists.com/jeb/a...
[15] sci-hub.scrongyao.com/10.1038...
[16] www.cell.com/current-biology/...
[17]pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29628...
[18] jor.pensoft.net/articles.php?...
[19] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
[20] royalsocietypublishing.org/do...

[@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

[@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.

[@jeff2758]

Ze Frank- True Facts about the Mantis.

[@borysnijinski331]

You could have made the video yourself.

[@inertia314]

@@jeff2758Yeah 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.

[@elegant-sloth]

That footage of a Mantis face-planting itself because of scientists is just magical.

[@sunnyquinn3888]

Yup, that's gonna leave a mark!

[@davegoud]

That face plant was hilarious...man some of these scientists are dark....

[@nihilistzen6133]

@@davegoud Nobody: Absolutely fucking noone: Scientists: SO we glued this mantis' body sections together and made it jump to see if it failed!!!

[@lasercraft32]

@@nihilistzen6133 FOR SCIENCE! :D

[@veebee3837]

The poor thing. I imaging it's like someone mounting a broom to your back and now you're not forced to live the rest of the day with it on. And then tomorrow, they do it to you all over again.

[@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.

[@mothgirl326]

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

[@flaliber4thewinxO]

⁠@@ShanePKing same here

[@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

[@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. ✝️ 🐻 🌱 🐞 🌺

[@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

[@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.

[@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...

[@humanspoder777]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@andrewvargas2473]

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

[@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 =)

[@teuth]

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

[@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.

[@FortressWolf97]

“When it’s eyes are following you, it feels like you’re being watched.” When it rains, it feels like you’re getting wet.

[@JesterAzazel]

Watch the rest of the video and it'll make more sense.

[@Kami84]

Something looking at you and you being watched can mean different things. The implication of the second statement is that there is an intelligence looking back at you not just a mindless automaton.

[@JesterAzazel]

@@Kami84 Or an optical illusion, as they explain with the straw analogy.

[@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!

[@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 😭🫡🫶🏿

[@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!

[@travisala8152]

About <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="716">11:56</a> 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. \

[@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.

[@brandonhall1904]

This channel continues to be one of the best on the entire internet. Thank you for making this insane content!

[@kbsmith5995]

Thank you so much for your hard work on this series. As a lay person who doesn't always understand every minute of each video, every installation is still riveting!

[@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.

[@pg855]

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 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2373">39:33</a> minutes. Thank you

[@davegoud]

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

[@dorphius_nl6334]

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

[@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! 😅😅

[@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!

[@visavo]

Awesome as always!! And congratulations to the newlyweds 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@brechtvandebergh8336]

This is so cool, thanks for making this video!

[@abewaddell4653]

This video was fantastic. Between the great footage and the clear explanations to make it simple, just 👏👏👏

[@WilliamHarbert69]

Wonderful and informative. The vision and intelligence discussions were especially interesting. Bravo.

[@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 🥰

[@ray4237]

I love these videos! Keep up the good work!

[@quentinapplefish]

Excellent episode, so interesting ! The emerging babies where so fascinating !

[@sapelesteve]

Fascinating and excellent video of the Praying Mantis! Definitely one of my favorite weird insects for sure! 👍👍

[@tyleranderson4921]

Always love the quality of your videos!

[@nolanpeters5462]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="444">7:24</a> "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. :)

[@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.

[@Marcos-Silva]

I have been waiting for this video for years and the wait has been worth it!

[@thelochlord]

Another awesome video. Whenever I see a mantis in person, I stop and watch them for as long as possible. Can't resist these little murder machines.

[@jaket3021]

Love these videos. Very informative.

[@LJW539]

This is such an awesome video!! What a good example of effective science communication !

[@michaelbarnard8529]

As a kid, a mantis egg sack hatched in my room, covering my walls with tiny green bugs.

[@sandraboiteau6074]

every single thing I saw and heard in this video was the wildest. nailed it again!

[@chinolucero5078]

Incredible work. Thank u for sharing ❤

[@thembastoep733]

Its nice to finally see who you are, I love your videos

[@curiousaustriantours6962]

What an incredible video! Having kept praying mantises throughout my life, this was definitely very informative and entertaining.

[@boowiebear]

The mantis in the 3D glasses will be with me forever. That is some science! 😂

[@joeshmoe8345]

Thanks a bunch for sharing this with us Big Dog!

[@lilithFGC]

you make such amazing science content! alot of the stuff on youtube is misinformation and fearmongering but you are one of the few people making well researched content! than you for all the videos!

[@FAMUCHOLLY]

Absolutely AWSOME video!!! Thank you!!!

[@ArijanMolnar]

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

[@tetleyT]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="262">4:22</a> oozing mantids! What a channel. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@philtralfaz]

Excellent work, a pleasure to bask in a professional presentation. Thank you.

[@stoneforest2639]

I love falling asleep to these videos. A 40 minute video is so good. Thank you!

[@AureliaLux]

Thank you for focusing on quality, thoughtful content!

[@Philfluffer]

What’s also very interesting with orchid mantids is they seem to see from the green visible light to the UV spectrum..

[@desmondhuff9]

Love this on a Saturday AM. Never stop!

[@BlisterTheYiga]

i've been waiting for a good video like this on praying mantises

[@N0Xa880iUL]

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

[@bwlong]

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

[@TheMisterGriswold]

Turned onto my street in NC, saw a bright green bird in the road. Got closer and saw it was a mantis. Size of a robin.

[@SB-qm5wg]

Very informative. TY

[@deepermind4884]

Outstanding video! You should win some awards!

[@black-snow]

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

[@xavier84623]

I didn’t know the pray in praying mantis way that kind of pray, at first I thought it was “prey” cause they were such good hunters.

[@edp5226]

I love learning something new. ty

[@jesxxenexy2833]

Is this stockfootage from the insects / animals or do you film everything yourself? Anyway good stuff, always a pleasure to watch your vids! Keep it up gurl!

[@oldcowbb]

just learned that mantis are the closest relatives to cockroaches from clint lol, perfect timing

[@gefginn3699]

Great post my friend.

[@TYPHON2713]

Excellent video!

[@1INAMILLIONSICILIAN]

Luv all of your videos! Can I suggest maybe doing one on cone snails. Especially Geography snails, (along with leopards, etc). That would be awesome! Keep up your outstanding work! 👍

[@ancogaming]

For those who wonder about the plural that she uses for "mantis": (like I did, as I am not a native English speaker, and I'm not going to tell you what I understood, at first) Most probably, as far as I could dig into the matter, one uses "mantises" or "mantes" as plural for a "mantis", and "mantids" as plural for "mantid", as in a member in the family of "Mantida(e)".

[@mariamgadimova5479]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE !!!!!!!!!! YESSS

[@CMZneu]

Amazing video!

[@Ostinat0]

Your love of mantids really comes out here; I think this is the longest video you've ever done! I'm all for it

[@steverodgers333]

Nice to see a sense of humor in your story. Made me laugh a few times. Great details into the insane biology of the mantids. ❤😊

[@GrandmaTurtle]

Best mantid documentary I've seen yet!

[@skerdycat]

Always loved this bugs!!! ❤

[@AdamFJH]

This is the best mantis documentary I've seen.

[@tomsparks6099]

Praying mantids are amazing. I love this channel. The naturalist in me gets all excited.

[@deucemoose7852]

That straw demonstration was very good, made the point very clearly!

[@BengalBoy16]

Finished watching Clint's Reptiles video about Insects, with Mantids in it, only for an hour later you guys post this video

[@overphoenix2394]

When a scientist gets a job to kidnap a praying mantis and put 3d glasses on them with glue do they thing “this is stupid” or “im a monster”?

[@edgargaebolg9307]

Probably the first one. This is awfully tame compared to other atrocities done in the name of science

[@laundrydays8834]

Seeing Real Science dropped this gem just made my work break ten times amazing!!

[@TheFirstCurse1]

I've loved them since I was a kid. They're my second favorite Insect (behind Social Bees) and my favorite species is the Orchid Mantis. The Pink and White is so beautiful.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

Mantids are just fashion girlies who change their whole wardrobes with the seasons, and I respect that

[@edibleapeman]

HOLD UP. If the mantis has a blind spot that is ALWAYS oriented towards a nearby observer, and IF the mantis is able to detect that blind spot (through simple inference), then it has a literal "Sixth Sense" in that it can detect when it is being watched. That is the creepiest thing I've imagined all day.

[@evanl6819]

Don’t worry, that’s not what’s happening. The black dot in their eye isn’t a blind spot, it only looks black to the person looking at it

[@jonathankarlsson1766]

The Insane Biology-video we've been waiting for. So happy to not be considered mantis dinner.

[@CouchCyber]

Super cool and interesting creatures, had one in my window a couple of years ago.

[@Smkpt42]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="848">14:08</a> a face planting mantis was the unexpected highlight of my morning . Thanks 😂😂

[@boltonky]

I still get freaked out by them not cause what they are (which is an amazing insect) but cause i have nightmares an a fear of parasites and have seen them be taken over by them. Great video :)