The Spiritual Connection Of The Praying Mantis Around the JerSey Shore
By Renee A. Thomaier
Retired New Jersey State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Recently I had the pleasure of observing not one, but two different-looking praying mantises on the back door of my house. A motivator for this article, I learned that the praying mantis is often seen as a messenger, symbolizing a link between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Praying mantises possess slender, elongated bodies divided into three regions: head, thorax, and abdomen, reflecting the typical structure found in insects. Their bodies are protected by a tough, flexible exoskeleton made of chitin (a fibrous sub -
MANALAPAN – Parents and young children can discover the wonders of the outdoors together this fall through the Science & Nature Explorers program, offered by Manalapan Parks and Recreation.
stance), which is generally green or brown. Their heads are triangular with a beak-like snout and thread-like antennae, supported by a highly flexible neck that allows most praying mantis species to rotate their heads about 180°. Praying mantises possess a wide field of vision thanks to three simple eyes. Their central vision allows detailed focus on prey, while their peripheral vision detects motion and prompts head movement. They also have stereoscopic (three dimensional) vision at close range.
These insects are found across all continents except Antarctica. They inhabit various environments, including rainforests, savannas, wooded areas, grasslands, dry
and semi-arid regions, like gardens, and agricultural fields. Wildlife species are camouflaged to blend in with surrounding vegetation, which makes observation challenging.
Praying mantises are generalist predators of other insects, such as flies, grasshoppers, moths, crickets, beetles, butterflies, and spiders, just to name a few. They tend to drink water droplets from leaves. While most mantises hunt during the day, there are a few species who are night ambush predators. Females, approximately 90% of them, prey upon their male counterparts, either during, before, or after, mating. This is known as sexual cannibalism.
Science & Nature Explorers Program Returns
The program, designed for children ages 2 to 5 with a parent, features classic stories paired with themed sensory play, along with music, movement, simple games, and art. Organizers recommend dressing for messy outdoor activities.
The sessions will be held at the Manalapan Recreation Center, each running from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: November 6 to December 4. The cost is $95 per parent and child, with an additional child at $24.
