mantis
Devout-looking insect
A mantis is a predatory insect with an elongated body, triangular head, and distinctive forelegs held in a raised position as if in prayer—hence the common name praying mantis.
Mantises are known for their stillness before striking prey and for the female's occasional habit of eating the male during or after mating.
A mantis sat motionless on the branch, waiting.
Addressing a deity
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- forelegsAnimal's anterior limbs
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
arthropod · entomology · compound eyes · thorax · abdomen · nymph · molt · metamorphosis
Surprise strike from concealment
- preyAnimal being hunted
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- huntressWoman who pursues game
patience · stillness · stalking · hunting · lethal · pounce · capture · voracious
Color of vegetation
- brownDark earth tone
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- barkSharp canine vocalization
- twigSlender woody shoot
orchid · flower · pink · white · tan · mottled · cryptic · coloration
Calm during delays
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- meditationFocused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- focusConcentrated attention point
mindfulness · awareness · spiritual · guardian · sacred · ancient · totem · omen
Chinese martial arts collectively
- sifuMartial arts master title
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- formsVarieties or documents
- kung fuChinese martial discipline
martial arts · hooking · trapping · grappling · speed · precision · counterattack · defensive
Producing good results
- pest controlManaging unwanted organisms
- aphidsSap-feeding garden insects
- organicFrom living matter
- natural predatorAnimal that instinctively hunts another
gardener · biological control · ecosystem · pollinator · companion planting · greenhouse · release · habitat
praying
Addressing a deity
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- forelegsAnimal's anterior limbs
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
camouflage · arthropod · entomology · compound eyes · thorax · abdomen · nymph · molt · metamorphosis · invertebrate
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
huntress · patience · stillness · stalking · hunting · lethal · pounce · capture · voracious · cannibalism
green
Color of vegetation
- brownDark earth tone
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- barkSharp canine vocalization
twig · orchid · flower · pink · white · tan · mottled · cryptic · coloration · disguise
patience
Calm during delays
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- meditationFocused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
focus · mindfulness · awareness · spiritual · guardian · sacred · ancient · totem · omen · mystical
wushu
Chinese martial arts collectively
kung fu · martial arts · hooking · trapping · grappling · speed · precision · counterattack · defensive · tournament
beneficial
Producing good results
- pest controlManaging unwanted organisms
- aphidsSap-feeding garden insects
- organicFrom living matter
natural predator · gardener · biological control · ecosystem · pollinator · companion planting · greenhouse · release · habitat · attract
- insectsant, ants, bee, bees, butterfly
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- bug nicknamesbug, critter, creepy crawly, crawler, pest
- mantises
- Dictyopteranscockroach, roach, termite, American cockroach, German cockroach
- Polyneopteraearwig, cockroach, termite, grasshopper, stick insect
mantisdragonfly
Large-eyed flying predator
cheetah · wolf · hawk · peregrine falcon
- praying mantisPredatory insect with grasping forelegs
- praying mantisesPredatory insects with grasping forelimbs
- mantis shrimpPowerful-clawed marine crustacean