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praying mantis |
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praying mantis: see mantid mantid or mantis, name applied to the large, slender, slow-moving, winged insects of the family Mantidae in the order Mantodea. Predatory insects, mantids have strong, elongate, spiny front legs, used for grasping prey. ..... Click the link for more information. . mantisor praying mantisAny of more than 1,500 species of the insect suborder Mantodea (order Orthoptera). The long-bodied, slow-moving mantis (or mantid) eats only living insects, using its large forelimbs to capture and hold its struggling prey. The female is likely to eat the male after mating. The European Mantis religiosa and the Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis) have been introduced to North America. The latter grows to 3–8 in. (8–20 cm) long. The name mantis (“diviner”) reflects an ancient Greek belief in its supernatural powers. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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In Several Stories, which his Misnomer Dance Theatre brings to Battery Park this month, six dancers scuttle with the clean, exuberant line of early Nikolais/Louis works, their hesitant legs thrusting forward like the limbs of a praying mantis, They might be acolytes of Pan or creatures from the world of Dr. I know Greggie has a good basis for caring for nature; I see his sense of wonder whenever we glimpse a hawk or unexpectedly find a praying mantis in the yard. After much research, Costello discovered that the praying mantis, which carefully dissects its prey before eating it, would be the perfect symbol for his demolition company. |
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