Where do praying mantises live?

Praying mantises live all around the world, with most living in warmer temperatures. They tend to choose environments where they can blend in, such as grassy and wooded areas, where they can match the environment to the color of their body to hide from animals that treat them as prey.

The praying mantis is a predator with a carnivorous diet. They tend to ambush and attack other insects that they can grab with their front legs. Once they hook their legs in, it is nearly impossible for prey to escape. They use their body colors to hide so that they can quickly snag prey as it walks by. Certain species may prey on spiders, small birds, lizards, mice and other small animals.