Praying mantis.

ROLCAM · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:26 am Post subject: Praying mantis.

Praying mantis.

It is a vicious insect, if YouTube shots showing it killing a mouse and a small bird are anything to go by. Moreover, so the story goes, after sex, the female eats the male (obviously, had it been the other way round, the creature would have quickly become extinct). Yet, all the time, it looks like it is preparing to enter a cathedral for evening service... whence its name.

ETYMOLOGY :-

mantis

1658, "type of insect that holds its forelegs in a praying position" (esp. the praying mantis, Mantis religiosa), from Gk. mantis, lit. "one who divines, a seer, prophet," from mainesthai "be inspired," related to menos "passion, spirit" (see mania). The insect so called for its way of holding the forelimbs as if in prayer. Also used in Gk. for some sort of grasshopper (Theocritus).
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Roland Camilleri

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Sydney , Australia.