Praying Mantis Life Cycle Game Online

The Life Cycle Of A praying mantis Game Online. Classroom and homeschool online Biology lesson for students from 2nd to 7th grades.

 

The Praying Mantis is a common garden pest that can be very difficult to identify because it can easily blend into the vegetation. These insects are members of the Mantis order, a large group of insects that are divided into 460 genera and 33 families. The Mantidae family is the largest. These insects are widespread in both tropical and temperate habitats, and can be found in both indoor and outdoor settings. Their triangular head, bulging eyes, and flexible necks make them very unique.
Varied species of Praying Mantis are widely distributed around the world, and they are mostly found in climates with mild winters and plenty of vegetation. Their range extends from tropical forests to grasslands and meadows. They are often found in groups and can live for two years while in captivity. Their cryptic behavior has earned them the nickname, 'praying' after the word 'Mantis'. Despite the name, the mantis isn't really praying..
The Praying Mantis is known to be a beneficial insect in our gardens and yards. It also feeds on various insects that are harmful to humans, including mosquitoes and flies. Besides eating harmful pests, the Praying Mantis helps farmers and gardeners by killing aphids, roaches, and other pests. In fact, these critters are beneficial to us as they can eat a variety of insects in our gardens.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the praying mantis begins with an egg. During the first instar, the nymphs spend time around the egg casing, feeding on their siblings and scavenging for small insects. As the praying mantis molts, it develops new body segments and grows in size. Each molt occurs six times. As it matures, the praying nymphs begin to shed their exoskeletons, allowing them to develop their different body parts.
The adult female praying mantis lays between 100 and 400 eggs after fertilization. After the eggs have been laid, the liquid around the eggs hardens and forms a protective sac structure called the ootheca. This sac structure is very hard and can survive temperature changes. As the temperature rises, the ootheca dries and the egg hatches. Once they have emerged, the baby is about three inches long and has wings. They go on to molt and grow in size to develop  into the adults we know.
After fertilization, the female praying nymphs will lay between 30 and 150 eggs per day, depending on food availability and species. When they leave, the eggs will cling in clusters or lines, which are often referred to as egg casings. When the eggs are ready, they will hatch and begin to feed. Once they have developed, they will mate and live in the wild.