Praying for prey

The insect called the praying mantis may look as though it is praying, but it is very fierce! It gets its name from the way it holds its forelegs in front, of its head. But in fact it is just waiting for an insect to come along and, as soon as it is within reach, the two parts of each fearsome foreleg open out and the prey is seized with lightning speed. A great many different kinds of mantis are found in the warmer parts of the world: some of the larger kinds found in the tropics are even said to catch small lizards and frogs.