Praying Mantis

We were greeted

early in the fall

by this praying mantis.

The insect is interesting to say the least.

Did you know that they can be purple, pink, or even white?

I like to use the Handbook of Nature Study, but it doesn't have a mantis study.

So I worked out a lesson for us:

LEADING THOUGHT-The praying mantis lives in one place its entire life. Birds, bats, spiders, snakes, frogs, and even other mantises will eat one. It likes to ambush its prey.

METHOD-Observe the mantis as it is posed upon an object that is not naturally its habitat.

OBSERVATIONS-

1. What colors are the the praying mantis?
2. Why?
3. Is it shiny or dull?
4. How many sets of legs do you see?
5. What is different about the folded legs?
6. What are the clawlike structures for?
7. Study the praying mantis' head. What color are the eyes? Describe the antennae-color and lengths. What shape is its face?
8. What do you notice about the praying mantis' wings?

We also used our nature notebooks with some lapbook materials.

All in all it was a pretty good study. Oh and interesting fact: A mantis can live for several days without a head.

Wishing you homeschool blessings,
Bethany