Are praying mantises poisonous?


Quick Answer

The praying mantis is not poisonous. Mantises tend to get a bad reputation due to their unusual physical and reproductive traits, but they are mostly harmless unless bothered.

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Are praying mantises poisonous?
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Full Answer

Mantises are usually called "praying mantises" due to the way their forelimbs fold down. This trait is an attack posture that allows a mantis to quickly strike its prey with no prior movement. Mantises are known to practice sexual cannibalism. This means that the female mantis usually eats the male after mating, though this is not always the case, as some males manage to escape. Praying mantises have a natural camouflage that makes them difficult to detect.

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