praying mantis

noun

1. mantis.

praying mantis

noun

1. another name for mantis

Word History and Origins

Origin of praying mantis¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

He was also passionate about his niche insect hobby, raising rare praying mantises.

From Los Angeles Times

We chatted and fed some house flies to a large praying mantis perched on the branch of a trumpet flower shrub.

From Los Angeles Times

They live and reproduce in water, but their young only develop inside the bodies of other animals—usually terrestrial insects such as praying mantises.

From Science Magazine

Birds, such as blue jays, cardinals, and chickens; as well as arthropods, such as praying mantises, spiders, yellowjackets, and ants, are the most common predators.

From National Geographic

There are few lanternfly predators other than praying mantises, which can’t keep the invasive insects in check if the population gets too big.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• beetle
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• gnat
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• termite
• tick