what does praying mantis eat

What Does a Praying Mantis Eat? The Complete Guide to Their Voracious Diet

When you see a praying mantis perched motionless on a plant with its front legs folded, it's easy to think of it as a peaceful, meditative creature. But this serene pose is deeply deceptive. In reality, the praying mantis is one of the most efficient and ruthless predators in the insect world. The question what does a praying mantis eat reveals a fascinating and sometimes shocking story of appetite, aggression, and ecological role. From tiny insects to, on rare occasions, small birds, the mantis menu is surprisingly extensive .

Understanding what does a praying mantis eat is essential for gardeners who want to attract them, pet owners who need to feed them, and anyone curious about nature's intricate food web. These insects are strictly carnivorous, meaning they eat only other animals . Their diet evolves as they grow, shifting from microscopic prey to meals that can rival their own size. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the full range of mantis meals, from common garden pests to unexpected vertebrates, and explain how their remarkable adaptations make them such successful hunters. To deepen your understanding of these incredible predators and learn how to care for them, we highly recommend downloading the Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF. And if you want to invite these fascinating hunters into your garden, you can Get Free Praying Mantis (no shipping cost) and start observing their feeding behaviors firsthand.

The Praying Mantis: Built for the Hunt

Before diving into the specific answer to what does a praying mantis eat, it's important to understand the physical adaptations that make them such formidable predators. Every aspect of a mantis's body is designed for one purpose: capturing and consuming prey .

The most distinctive feature is their front legs, technically called "raptorial legs." These are greatly enlarged and lined with sharp spines that act like a claw clip for your hair, making escape impossible once the mantis has grabbed hold . When prey comes within range, these legs can snap out in as little as 50 to 70 milliseconds—faster than the human eye can follow .

Their vision is equally impressive. Praying mantises are the only insects that can see in 3D, thanks to their two large forward-facing compound eyes . They also have three smaller simple eyes called ocelli that detect light and motion from up to 60 feet away . Their triangular heads can rotate a full 180 degrees—unique among insects—allowing them to track movement from any direction .

These adaptations mean that when we ask what does a praying mantis eat, the answer is essentially "anything it can catch." As the Texas Master Gardeners note, the praying mantis is "an almost perfect insect-hunting machine" .

The Core Diet: Common Insect Prey

At its most basic level, the answer to what does a praying mantis eat is "other insects." Mantises are generalist predators that consume a wide variety of arthropods . Their diet typically includes:

Flies: Both houseflies and various garden flies are common prey .
Crickets: These jumping insects are a staple food for mantises of all sizes .
Grasshoppers: Mantises are fast enough to catch these agile jumpers .
Moths: Mantises are one of the few predators that actively feed on moths at night .
Beetles: Various beetle species become meals, though larger beetles may put up a fight .
Caterpillars: These soft-bodied larvae are easily consumed .
Mosquitoes: Mantises will snatch these pests from the air .
Cockroaches: Even these fast-moving insects are no match for a mantis .
Aphids: Tiny pests are especially important food for young mantises .
Bees and Wasps: Mantises will catch stinging insects, though this carries some risk .
Butterflies: These colorful pollinators are frequent victims .
Spiders: Mantises will eat spiders, though some spiders can fight back .

This extensive menu shows that when gardeners ask what does a praying mantis eat in their yards, the answer includes many common pests. The K-State Research and Extension calls them "guardians of the garden" precisely because they prey on undesirable insects .

Size Matters: How Prey Changes with Age

The answer to what does a praying mantis eat changes dramatically as the insect grows. Like all insects, mantises hatch from eggs as tiny nymphs and grow through a series of molts . At each stage, their prey must be appropriately sized .

Newly Hatched Nymphs

When mantises first emerge from the egg case (ootheca), they're incredibly small—often just a few millimeters long. These tiny nymphs need the smallest prey available, including fruit flies, gnats, aphids, and other tiny insects . They'll also eat each other if other food isn't available, which is why they disperse rapidly after hatching .

Growing Nymphs

As mantises grow through successive molts, they can handle larger prey. Mid-size nymphs feed on small crickets, flies, and small roaches . Each molt allows them to tackle slightly bigger meals.

Adults

Adult mantises can take the largest prey. Depending on the species, adult mantises regularly eat crickets, grasshoppers, moths, butterflies, bees, and wasps . The largest mantis species can handle even more impressive prey, as we'll explore below.

This size progression means that the answer to what does a praying mantis eat depends heavily on its age. A first-instar nymph needs microscopic prey, while a full-grown adult can tackle animals many times its size.

Surprising Prey: Vertebrates on the Menu

One of the most shocking aspects of what does a praying mantis eat is that these insects occasionally consume vertebrates. While this is more common in large tropical species, it has been documented worldwide .

Birds, Especially Hummingbirds

A 2017 study published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology compiled 147 cases of mantises eating birds across six continents . Twelve different mantis species were seen consuming 24 types of birds, with hummingbirds being the most common victims . The Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis), introduced to North America, is the most prolific bird predator, with 25 recorded incidents in the American Northeast alone .

The mantises have a particularly gruesome way of eating their avian prey: head-first. In many cases, they first pierce the bird's head and feast on its brain .

Other Vertebrates

The same study recorded mantises eating frogs, lizards, salamanders, newts, shrews, mice, snakes, tiny soft-shelled turtles, and even once a small bat . Gardening expert Melinda Myers notes that larger tropical mantises will eat lizards and frogs . The Texas Master Gardeners confirm that larger species, especially in tropical areas, "will chow down on lizards, small mammals and even hummingbirds" .

It's important to note that these vertebrate meals are the exception rather than the rule. As Melinda Myers explains, "Smaller prey, not hummingbirds, are their preferred food" . Mantises typically only target such large prey when they're hungry enough or when the opportunity presents itself .

Cannibalism: Eating Their Own Kind

Perhaps the most famous aspect of what does a praying mantis eat is that they eat each other. Praying mantises are famously cannibalistic, and this behavior occurs at multiple life stages .

Nymph Cannibalism

Newly hatched mantis nymphs will eat each other if other prey isn't readily available . This is why they disperse rapidly after emerging from the egg case—staying together means becoming a meal for their siblings .

Sexual Cannibalism

The most notorious cannibalism occurs during mating. Female mantises have been well-documented biting off the heads and eating other body parts of the males they mate with . However, the frequency of this behavior may be overstated. Studies show that of the species that exhibit sexual cannibalism, females make a meal of males only between 13 and 28 percent of the time .

When it does happen, there may be an evolutionary benefit. A 2016 study found that when female Chinese mantises consume their mates, they acquire important amino acids that are incorporated into the eggs they lay . They also lay twice as many eggs after cannibalizing a male . Birds & Blooms reports that females can boost their egg production by at least 22% and up to 135% by consuming their mates .

So when we ask what does a praying mantis eat during breeding season, the answer sometimes includes their own partners—a brutal but effective reproductive strategy.

Hunting Strategy: Sit and Wait

Understanding what does a praying mantis eat also requires understanding how they catch their food. Mantises are primarily "ambush predators" that use a "sit and wait" strategy .

They use their excellent camouflage to blend into vegetation, sometimes swaying back and forth to mimic plants moving in a breeze . They can remain motionless for hours, waiting for unsuspecting prey to venture too close .

When prey comes within range, the mantis strikes with lightning speed. It takes only 50-70 milliseconds for them to snare their victim . They immediately use their strong mouthparts (mandibles) to start chewing the still-living prey, often biting the victim on the neck first to paralyze it and prevent escape .

This hunting strategy means that what does a praying mantis eat is largely determined by what wanders within striking distance. They don't chase prey; they wait for prey to come to them.

The Problem with Mantises: Indiscriminate Eating

While mantises do eat many pests, the answer to what does a praying mantis eat has a significant downside: they are not selective. Mantises feed on any insect they can catch and commonly prey on beneficial and non-pest species .

This means they'll also consume bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that gardeners want to attract . The Kaufman birding experts note that mantises are "just as likely to eat pollinators as pests, so their impacts are mostly neutral" .

Furthermore, despite their large size, each individual mantis consumes relatively few insects . Washington State University Extension states that "their contribution to garden pest control is usually less than their large as life image" .

So while it's exciting to know what does a praying mantis eat includes many pests, they're not a reliable solution for pest control on their own.

What Mantises Don't Eat

To complete the picture of what does a praying mantis eat, it's also helpful to understand what they don't eat. Mantises are obligate carnivores, meaning they cannot digest plant matter . They have no interest in leaves, flowers, fruits, or any vegetation.

They also won't eat dead prey. Mantises are programmed to respond to movement, and they generally won't recognize a non-moving insect as food . In captivity, they must be offered live prey.

Finally, mantises avoid prey that might harm them. While they will eat stinging insects like bees and wasps, this carries risk. A bee may sting the mantis before being consumed, potentially injuring or killing the predator .

What Do Pet Mantises Eat?

For those keeping mantises as pets, the question what does a praying mantis eat becomes a practical concern. Pet mantises thrive on a diet of appropriately sized live insects .

For newly hatched nymphs, offer fruit flies or gnats . You can purchase these from pet stores or culture them at home using fruit.

As mantises grow, they can be offered small crickets, roaches, and flies . Adult mantises can take larger crickets, moths, grasshoppers, and other appropriately sized insects .

Feeding tips for pet mantises include:

Feed every 2-3 days; mantises don't need to eat daily
Always offer live prey—mantises won't eat dead insects
Match prey size to the mantis's size; prey should be no larger than the mantis's head or abdomen
Use tweezers to offer prey directly if the mantis isn't hunting
Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours to keep the enclosure clean

The Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF provides detailed feeding recommendations for mantises at every life stage.

Water and Hydration

While not technically part of what does a praying mantis eat, water is essential for their survival. Mantises get some moisture from their prey, but they also need access to drinking water .

Mantises don't drink from open water sources like bowls—they can drown in even shallow water. Instead, they drink water droplets from leaves, enclosure walls, and other surfaces . In captivity, misting the enclosure daily provides necessary hydration.

Conclusion: Nature's Voracious Predator

So, what does a praying mantis eat? The answer spans an incredible range—from tiny fruit flies and aphids to crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and butterflies . They'll eat bees, wasps, and spiders . They're famously cannibalistic, consuming their own kind at every life stage . And in their most dramatic meals, large mantises occasionally catch and eat small vertebrates including frogs, lizards, mice, and even hummingbirds .

Let's review the key points about mantis diet:

Core diet: Flies, crickets, moths, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars
Also eaten: Mosquitoes, cockroaches, spiders, bees, wasps, butterflies
Surprising prey: Frogs, lizards, small snakes, mice, small birds (especially hummingbirds)
Cannibalism: Nymphs eat each other; females sometimes eat males after mating
Not eaten: Plants, dead prey, anything that doesn't move

The praying mantis reminds us that nature is both beautiful and brutal. Behind those innocent, folded "praying" hands lies one of the most efficient predators on the planet—a creature that has perfected the art of the ambush over millions of years of evolution.

We hope this guide has answered your questions about mantis diet and deepened your appreciation for these incredible insects. To continue learning about mantis care and how to support them in your garden, we invite you to download the Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF today. It's packed with expert information on mantis biology, behavior, and feeding. And if you're ready to welcome these fascinating predators into your garden, click here to Get Free Praying Mantis (no shipping cost) and start observing their incredible hunting behaviors firsthand. Whether as pest control or simply as fascinating garden residents, mantises will enrich your connection to the natural world.