This photo has been taken near the tribal village (Mannakudi), Periyar tiger reserve December 2011

The praying mantis is the common name used for this insect due to their typical ‘Prayer-like’ stance. The word ‘mantis’ is actually derived from the Greek word ‘mantis’, which means fortune teller, or prophet.

Praying mantis are highly predacious and feed on a variety of insects, including moths, crickets, grasshoppers and flies. Farmers and gardeners appreciate them as a form of organic pest control.  An interesting behavior of this creature, the adult female usually eats the male after or during mating.