A mantis is a slender insect famous for the way it holds its front legs folded up like it's praying, which is why it's often called a praying mantis. These fascinating hunters sit perfectly still on leaves and branches, waiting for other insects to come close. When prey gets near enough, those folded legs snap out faster than you can blink, grabbing the victim in a lightning-quick strike.

Mantises have triangular heads that can swivel almost all the way around, giving them an almost alien appearance as they track movement with their huge eyes. They're one of the few insects that can look over their shoulder at you. If you've ever watched one turn its head to follow your finger, you've seen something most insects can't do.

These insects are helpful to gardeners because they eat pests like aphids, beetles, and even mosquitoes. Large mantises can catch small lizards, frogs, or even hummingbirds, though they typically stick to insects their own size.