Comments for 4.5 inches Dry Brown Leaf-like Insect (Praying Mantid)
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Comments for
4.5 inches Dry Brown Leaf-like Insect (Praying Mantid)

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Good link!
by: Anonymous

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2006/03/12/mantid-from-india/ was a nice link. Thank you very much. Sure Doug, I'll drop in as frequently as possible.
Thanks
by: Anonymous

It looks like a variety of dead-leaf mantis. Thanks for the information everybody! I might post more pics of insects, so be sure you verify them as well.
to add to Moni's comments
by: Donalda

There are several varieties of Mantis in India.
Praying mantis, or praying mantid, is the common name for an insect of the order Mantodea. Often mistakenly spelled preying mantis (a tempting mistake, as they are notoriously predatory) they are in fact named for the typical "prayer-like" stance.
The adult praying mantis varies in color depending on the habitat it lives in. It camouflages the leaves, flowers, twigs, and barks of trees where it is found. In your picture the mantis appears to be doing just that...camoflauging as a leaf. Its size varies depending on the species, from about 3 cm-18cm.Some species have powerful forewings for protection and flying.Other species are wingless, odd-looking, flower/leaf-shaped, and others are so thin to be recognizedthat they are hardly recognizable. They lay their eggs on stems of grass and and shrubs in a frothy mass which hardens into what looks and feels like a small bundle of beige styrofoam with minute ridges in the fall.The egg bundles hatch in the late spring.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2006/03/12/mantid-from-india/
Praying mantid
by: Moni

Ganesh
This insect is a praying mantid. The front legs are usually held upright in what looks like a praying position...hence the name. Mantid refers to the entire group of insects in the order Mantodea. Mantis is a genus in the order. Mantids are predators on insects and small animals like frogs. They are considered to be very beneficial for controling pests in the yard and garden.
In the US, we have green, brown and brown with green markings on our mantids. The mantids lay egg cases in the fall time of year which hold hundreds of eggs. These egg cases then hatch in the early summer and help control pests.
Hope that helps as they will be similar in India.

weird bug
by: Anonymous

could this be a type of praying mantis? Here in the USA they are usually green, but the body shape of yours says praying mantis, in my opinion.

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