What is the life cycle of a praying mantis?
The natural life span of a Praying Mantis in the wild is about 10-12 months, but some have been known to live up to 14 months in captivity. In cooler areas Mantids die during the winter months. The males sometimes die suddenly 2 or 3 weeks after mating. This is normally caused by the female’s urge to kill off the male once the egg pouch has been produced (this does not happen with all mantis species). The Praying Mantis lays its eggs en mass, usually in the fall, on small branches or twigs. The eggs hatch in spring or early summer when a warmer temperature triggers the birth.
