Lucas Bustamante / Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp.) Sumaco National Park, Napo, Ecuador

Lucas Bustamante / Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis rhombicollis) in defensive position, on flower, Chinambi, Carchi, Ecuador.

Lucas Bustamante / Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp.) (Possibly C. rhombicollis) Canande, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.

Staffan Widstrand / Praying mantis nymph silhouetted through leaf,. Raja Ampat, Western Papua, Indonesian New Guinea

James Dunbar / Close up of a Cryptic mantis (Sibylla pretiosia) catching and eating a fruit fly, UK. Captive.

James Dunbar / Close up of a Cryptic mantis (Sibylla pretiosia) catching and eating a fruit fly, UK. Captive.

Nick Hawkins / Leaf mantis (Choeradodis sp.) Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.

Alex Hyde / Grass Mantis (Schizocephala bicornis) photographed on a white background. Captive, originating from India.

Alex Hyde / Malaysian Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) white colour morph camouflaged on an orchid. Captive. Originating from Malaysia.

Benjamin Barthelemy,Benjamin Barthelemy / European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) on plant, Alsace, France, September.

Juergen Freund / Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) feeding on preying mantis in strangler fig tree, Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Alex Hyde / Peacock Mantis (Pseudempusa pinnapavonis) against white background. Captive, endemic to Africa.

Michel Poinsignon / Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) female, clinging between two twigs, Lorraine, France, October.

Michel Poinsignon / Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) pair on plant facing each other, Lorraine, France, September.

Dan Burton / Child with a Praying Mantis (Mantodea) on hand. France, Europe, August. Model released.

Alex Hyde / Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) shedding skin. Captive, originating from Africa.

Alex Hyde / Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) in threat display with wings extended showing eye spots on wing cases. Captive, originating from Africa.

Jouan & Rius / Praying mantis defensive display, Similajau NP, Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia

Rod Williams / Peacock praying mantis (Pseudempusa pinnapavonis) female with colourful wings open in defensive display. Captive, found in Thailand. May

Rod Williams / Peacock praying mantis (Pseudempusa pinnapavonis) female in defensive display with colourful wings. Captive, found in Thailand.

Tim Laman / Praying mantis (Mantodea) green leaf mimic type walking along a mossy branch in lowland rainforest, Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Paul Harcourt Davies / European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) camouflaged on leaf, Tuscany, Italy

Nick Garbutt / Male Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) catching Praying mantis in beach side vegetation. Bay of Antongil, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Möllers / Female European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) portrait, Sardinia, Italy, September 2008. WWE INDOOR EXHIBITION

Philip Dalton / Eruopean praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) and brown cricket on flowers, Europe

Michel Poinsignon / European praying mantis {Mantis religiosa} on hawthorn berries, Lorraine, France

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zankl / Mantis on vegetation near the sand dunes, Dalyan Delta, Turkey, August 2009

Stephen Dalton / Ethiopian praying mantis {Miomantis abyssinica} in flight

Stephen Dalton / Ethiopian praying mantis {Miomantis abyssinica} in flight

Stephen Dalton / Ethiopian mantis {Miomantis abyssinica} portrait, controlled conditions.

Jose B. Ruiz / Praying mantis {Empusa pennata} Sauceda, Caminomorisco, Las Hurdes, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain

Rod Williams / Giant asian praying mantis {Hierodula membranacea} male, captive from India

Kim Taylor / Japanese praying mantis {Paratenodera ardifolia} adult. Japan.

Kim Taylor / Japanese praying mantis {Paratenodera ardifolia} nymph shedding its skin. Japan.

Kim Taylor / Japanese praying mantis {Paratenodera ardifolia} adult in flight

Nick Garbutt / Praying mantis {Mantodea} Ranomafana NP, Madagascar.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Praying mantis {Mantidea} cleaning antenna, Texas, USA.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Praying mantis {Mantidea} on Texas lantana flowers, Texas, USA.

Thomas Marent / African Savannah Mantid (Polyspilota aeruginosa) in defensive posture, Mantadia National Park, Madagascar

Thomas Marent / Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) camouflaged on flower, Borneo, Malaysia

Mark Moffett / African Praying Mantis (Sphodromantis lineola) female, Africa

Brais Seara Fernandez/ BIA / Praying Mantis (Empusa pennata) nymph, Galicia, Spain

Thomas Marent / Devil's Praying Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) in defensive posture, Tanzania

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Hooded Praying Mantis (Choeradodis rhomboidea) disguised as leaves, rainforest ecosystem, Costa Rica

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) and orchid flower, Malaysia

Piotr Naskrecki / Mantid (Mantidae), Woburn, Massachusetts

Piotr Naskrecki / Mantid (Taumantis sp) instar, Woburn, Massachusetts

Piotr Naskrecki / Mantid (Hemiempusa capensis), Western Cape, South Africa