| A praying mantis life cycle begins as an egg case in an an egg case containing up to 400 eggs. Praying mantis nymphs hatch in the spring from eggs of their parents the prior season. Generally the stronger nymphs eat the weaker ones making its brother or sister its first meal.
As the Praying mantis matures it eats just about anything that moves grasshoppers, leafhoppers, aphids, mosquitoes , beetles, spiders, moths you name it. One generation of Praying mantis will mature to adulthood each season. In the fall the female Praying mantis will lay eggs and die approximately 3 weeks later [If you gave birth to up to 400 young , you'd probably drop dead also.].
The Praying Mantis is a highly effective predator with a voracious appetite , they consume dozens of Garden pests and should be included in any organic or integrated pest management scheme.
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