Dear Nature Lovers,
Greetings from oikos !

Insects have a great variety in shape and size. One of the easily identifiable insect is from order Mantodea. Forelegs of this insect are modified to grasp prey and are always held in a ‘prayer-like’ position. So it is called as “Praying Mantis”.

MANTIDS
ORDER : MANTODEA 
The order Mantodea includes Mantids.
Mantis = prophet / fortune teller. 
Wings: Two pairs of membranous wings, though some females lack wings.
Mouth Parts: Chewing.
Metamorphosis: Incomplete. Egg – Nymph – Adult.
Significance to Humans: They are predaceous on a large variety of insects and other arthropods. They usually wait motionless for their prey to venture within striking distance. Mantids are well known as biological control agents.

Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa) 
Size varies from 5 to 10 cm. Color is predominantly green. Rarely brown.
It is highly cannibalistic species i.e. females start feeding on males during mating itself. Also they are highly predaceous so they are excellent bio-control agents. They camouflage with their surrounding as a defensive strategy.

Reference : Field guide : “Insects of BNHS reserve” by BNHS, Mumbai, Indian Insects and Arachnids by MeenakshiVenkataraman.