Mantis myths, gently untangled

Myth It’s spelt “preying mantis”.

Fact Because they eat so much, mantises are sometimes called ‘preying mantids’, but that spelling is a mistake. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea)

Myth Female mantises always eat their mates.

Fact It’s often said that female mantises always eat their mates, but studies suggest this isn’t commonly seen in the wild. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea) The Canadian Encyclopedia says it is probably uncommon in the wild and more likely when females are hungry. Males approach slowly and freeze if the female moves. The Canadian Encyclopedia: Mantid

Myth Mantises are a kind of grasshopper.

Fact Mantises are insects in their own order, called Mantodea. They were once grouped with grasshoppers and crickets. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea) Grasshoppers and crickets are only distant relatives. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea)

Myth Every mantis can fly.

Fact Not all mantises can fly. Those that do are often drawn to lights at night. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea) In many species the females have no wings, or wings too small to use. Australian Museum: Praying mantises (Order Mantodea)

Myth A mantis spits something that can blind you.

Fact Old superstitions said a mantis’s spit could blind people, or that a mantis could kill a horse if eaten. Britannica lists these as superstitions. Britannica: Mantis

Myth Mantis egg cases are great for garden pest control.

Fact Mantis egg cases are sold for garden pest control, but mantises aren’t very good at it: they eat almost anything, including pollinators and other helpful insects. Utah State University Extension: Beneficial insects, mantids

Myth Mantises live wild in Britain.

Fact None live wild in Great Britain. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea) · checked 31 Oct 2026 The Oxford museum’s insect guide puts it plainly: there are no praying mantises in the wild in Britain, and its UK species count is zero. Oxford University Museum of Natural History: Mantodea · checked 31 Oct 2026

Myth The orchid mantis copies an orchid.

Fact Despite the name, there’s no good evidence it copies an orchid, or any one particular flower: it looks like a general ‘flower’. O’Hanlon 2016, Current Biology quick guide: Orchid mantis

Myth Mantises only eat insects.

Fact Mantises eat mostly insects, but have been known to eat small animals with backbones. Australian Museum: Praying mantises (Order Mantodea) Mantises will eat prey about their own size, and bigger species will take mice, lizards and frogs. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantids (Order Mantodea)

Myth Young mantises are caterpillars.

Fact Mantises have no caterpillar or pupa stage. The young, called nymphs, look like small adults without wings. Amateur Entomologists’ Society: Praying Mantid caresheet

Myth Mantises can’t turn their heads.

Fact With a flexible neck, mantises are the only group of insects that can look over their shoulders. The Canadian Encyclopedia: Mantid