#55: Praying Mantis

Litinsects #55: Praying Mantis

Here’s one you’ll probably recognize immediately: the praying mantis. These insects belong to the order MANTODEA and are most closely related to termites and cockroaches. And there are so many good fun facts to share about them so I will get right into it!

All mantises are characterized by their triangular heads, bulging compound eyes, and instantly recognizable RAPTORIAL FORELEGS, which are adapted for catching and gripping prey
Mantises are masters of camouflage, which not only protects them from predators but also allows them to avoid detection by prey. Flower mantises are camouflaged SO well to that they can wait undetected on a flower for an unsuspecting pollinator to come right to them. This is known as AGGRESSIVE MIMICRY
Most mantises are AMBUSH PREDATORS and rely heavily on sight to locate prey, meaning they are often diurnal. They will eat pretty much any type of insect and arthropod and have even been observed eating small birds and lizards. They really are not picky eaters
One of the most well-known facts about these insects is that females eat males after mating, known as SEXUAL CANNIBALISM. Because reproduction is costly, it is no surprise that females who eat their mates are able to produce more eggs than ones who don’t. One study used traceable radioactive amino acids to show that the consumed tissues of the male are allocated into eggs and not into the female’s own body. So in a way, a male’s final act is helping his kids get a good start
Mantis forewings are modified into TEGMINA, which are a pair of leathery wings used as protection for the hindwings and as camouflage. Some mantises, though, are completely wingless

And now, the coolest facts for last:

Mantises are the ONLY insects that can turn their heads 180 degrees to look over their shoulders! Because they are visual hunters, this helps them scan their surroundings for a potential meal
They are also the only animal known to have only ONE EAR. It is located on the underside of the thorax and is most likely used to detect the ultrasonic calls of bats. There is still some debate as to the function of mantis ears, however; because a single ear is not able to sense directionality of sound and because their hearing does not even cover the full range of bat calls, it has some scientists wondering...

Comments

#8: Butterfly Wings

Litinsects #8: Butterfly Wings Have you ever heard that you shouldn’t touch a butterfly’s wings or it will die? Well why is that...? Who remembers what I explained yesterday about Latin names? Butterflies and moths belong to the group LEPIDOPTERA, from the Greek words lepis for scale and pteron for wing. You probably guessed it already: butterfly wings are covered in SCALES! (Anyone starting to see a pattern with the names here? 😉 ) Butterfly scales are actually modified, flattened SETAE (aka hairs) that either partially or entirely cover the wings of most species. Some look like roof tiles, like on this here monarch, while some look more thread-like Scales protect and insulate the insect, but underneath the wing is actually transparent! Some species, like the GLASSWING BUTTERFLY, lack scales and have totally amazing see-through wings! Scales are responsible for the coloration of butterfly wings in one of two ways. First of all, scales contain...

#58: Tardigrades

Litinsects #58: Tardigrades Anyone recognize these weird-looking little guys? They are actually not insects, as a matter of fact they are not even arthropods but they are cool enough to deserve a post. These are TARDIGRADES, also known as water bears or moss piglets. They are best known for their bizarre abilities to survive some of the most extreme conditions imaginable... © Science Faction Images -As always, the name’s etymology describes them a bit. It comes from the Latin “tardus” meaning “slow” and “gradior” for “step/walk”. Their common name comes from the fact that their walk looks a bit like a bear’s -Tardigrades are a PHYLUM of animals consisting of around 1,300 species. (Side note: the TAXONOMIC LEVEL of a group has nothing to do with how many species it contains. For example phylum Arthropoda, a taxonomically equivalent category consists of around 1 million described species and possibly millions more not yet described!). -These animals are all microscopic, ranging in ...

#60: Cockroaches

Litinsects #60: Cockroaches Cockroaches belong to the order BLATTODEA, which is derived from the Greek word “blatta” meaning cockroach. Did you know that the Blattodea contains cockroaches AND termites? That’s right; termites are actually considered a specialized group of cockroaches! They used to be classified in an entirely different order of insects but recent genetic studies found a closer relation to cockroaches than previously thought. -Roaches are characterized by their broad, flat bodies. They have long antennae and generalized chewing mouthparts. In contrast to many other insects, which have 3, cockroaches have only 2 ocelli (or simple eyes) -Most people consider roaches to be disgusting, disease-spreading pests. But of 4,500 species, only 30 live in human habitats and are considered pests -The common name is derived from the Spanish word for the insect, “cucaracha” -Cockroaches can be found in a wide variety of habitats around the world. Many live in the tropics but...

Litinsects

Search This Blog