Pictures from Brookston by Marvin Ann Patterson

August 06, 2020
The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long “neck,” or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and
held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. By any name, these
fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised
on a long “neck,” or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees
to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple
eyes located between them.