Order
Mantodea Mantids are fairly large
insects that are easily identified by their large grasping/raptorial
front legs that are equipped with spines for holding prey. The
first thoracic segment (prothorax) is greatly elongated. Mantids
are able to move their triangular shaped head from side-to-side.
They have chewing mouthparts, well-developed compound eyes, and long
filiform antennae. The front wings of mantids are thickened
(tegmina). Some mantids contain their eggs in an ootheca, which
may contain more than 200 eggs.
