The reputation of praying mantises comes from the way they stand with their forelegs folded, as if they’re praying. But don’t let the pose fool you. Mantids are among the most efficient hunters in the insect world, and they’ll eat a surprisingly wide range of prey.
So, what do praying mantises eat? Most of the time, they eat other insects and small arthropods they can catch—flies, moths, crickets, roaches, caterpillars, and more. Larger mantids may occasionally take bigger prey, but their day-to-day diet is usually “whatever is available and catchable.” In this guide, we’ll cover what mantises eat in the wild, what pet mantises should eat (and how often), what baby mantises eat, what foods to avoid, and how parasites fit into the picture.
Quick Answer: What a Praying Mantis Eats Most Often
Praying mantises are carnivores. In real-world terms, that means their main foods are:
- Small insects (flies, mosquitoes, gnats, moths)
- Garden pests (caterpillars, small beetles, aphids, leafhoppers)
- Medium prey (crickets, grasshoppers, roaches, larger flies)
- Occasional larger prey (only for larger species and only sometimes)
A mantis’s diet is strongly influenced by its size, species, and what’s available. Bigger mantids can handle bigger prey. Smaller mantids (and babies) need tiny, soft-bodied insects they can safely overpower.
What Foods Do Praying Mantises Enjoy Most?
Carnivores predominate among praying mantises, so they get most of their nutrition from protein-rich prey. Mantids are skilled (top-tier) hunters and will take down prey quickly with their spiny forelegs.
Mantids are also biotrophs, which means they can eat both herbivorous and carnivorous arthropods (insects). In other words, they’re not “picky eaters” in the way some predators are. If it moves and fits the mantis’s abilities, it can end up on the menu.
Here are some of the foods mantids commonly enjoy:
Spiders. Small spiders can be a good food source, but some can bite first.
Crickets. A common feeder insect for pet mantises, but they can fight back if left too long.
Mosquitoes and flies. Easy to catch and generally low-risk for mantids.
Cockroaches. Often eaten by many mantids and commonly used as feeders depending on size.
Butterflies and moths. Mantids often sit near flowers and lights where these insects appear.
Beetles. Some are easy prey; others are too hard-shelled or defensive depending on size.
Caterpillars and grasshoppers. Frequent prey in gardens and grassy areas.
They may also hunt and eat other members of their own species during times of scarcity. Cannibalism is more likely when mantises are crowded, competing for food, or when size differences are large.
Bigger prey: what they can eat vs what they usually eat
You’ll sometimes hear stories of mantids catching frogs, lizards, or even small birds. Larger mantids can attempt larger prey, but that doesn’t mean it’s their normal diet or a good idea to “test” in captivity. Most mantises do best when their prey is manageable and safe, not borderline dangerous.
How Do Praying Mantises Hunt for Food?
Mantises are best known as ambush predators. They don’t usually chase prey for long distances. Instead, they rely on stealth, camouflage, and a sudden strike.
Using their deceptive bodies, sharp forelimbs, and the ability to rotate their heads up to 180 degrees, mantids can track movement without moving their entire bodies. When prey gets close enough, the mantis snaps forward, clamps down with its raptorial forelegs, and begins feeding—often starting with softer parts first.
Mantids also have a survival advantage many insects lack: they can detect certain predator cues. For example, they have a single ear located on the underside of the body that helps them detect bat ultrasound, which can trigger evasive behavior.
What Do Praying Mantises Eat in the Wild?
In the wild, mantises eat what their habitat provides. Because mantises live across many climates and environments, the exact prey list changes by region, season, and local insect populations.
Overall, insects make up the bulk of a praying mantis’s diet. That includes flying insects (flies, moths, mosquitoes), ground insects (crickets, beetles), and plant-associated pests (caterpillars, aphids, leafhoppers). Mantises will also eat worms, grubs, and insect larvae when they can catch them.
What they’re likely eating around Florida yards
In warm, humid regions like Florida, mantises often hunt where insects concentrate:
- Around porch lights and outdoor lighting where moths and flies gather
- In gardens and landscaping where caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers feed
- In shrubs and tall grass where insects move through cover
Because they’re generalist predators, mantises may reduce some pest pressure in gardens. But they’ll also eat beneficial insects if they can catch them, so it’s best to think of them as “part of the ecosystem,” not a perfect pest-control solution.
What Do Pet Praying Mantises Eat?
Praying mantises have become popular as pets because they’re fascinating to watch and relatively low-maintenance when cared for properly. The key to feeding a pet mantis is simple: feed live prey that is appropriately sized and safe.
Best feeder insects (and practical feeding rules)
Most pet mantises do well on feeder insects such as:
- Fruit flies (especially for babies)
- Small flies and gnats
- Small roaches (size-appropriate)
- Crickets (use carefully and remove uneaten)
- Small grasshoppers, moths, or other feeder insects from reliable sources
A good rule of thumb is to choose prey that is smaller than (or at most similar to) the mantis’s head and upper body size, especially for younger mantises. Oversized prey can injure a mantis, stress it, or lead to failed feeding attempts.
Also, avoid feeding insects that may have been exposed to pesticides. Wild-caught prey can introduce parasites or chemicals. For most pet owners, using feeder insects from a clean source is safer.
Best practice: remove live prey if it isn’t eaten fairly quickly. Leaving crickets or other strong feeders in an enclosure for too long can lead to stress or injury, especially around molts.
How much and how often do mantises eat?
There isn’t one perfect schedule for every species and every individual. Appetite changes with age, temperature, and life stage. That said, a simple, realistic guideline helps:
- Baby mantises (nymphs): smaller meals more often
- Juveniles: steady feeding as they grow between molts
- Adults: less frequent feeding than fast-growing nymphs
Many mantises will eat more regularly when they’re growing and molting. Before a molt, a mantis may refuse food for a period. That can be normal. Overfeeding can also cause messy feeding, stress, or poor enclosure hygiene.
A practical way to gauge whether your mantis is eating “enough” is to watch behavior and body condition. If a mantis is active, responsive, and not appearing unusually thin or weak, its diet is likely adequate. If it repeatedly refuses food and shows lethargy or visible decline, look at enclosure conditions and prey type/size first.
What Do Baby Praying Mantises Eat?
Baby praying mantises (nymphs) start hunting almost immediately after they hatch, but they need very small prey that they can safely overpower.
Common foods for baby mantises include:
- Fruit flies
- Aphids
- Leafhoppers
- Tiny gnats or small flies
Nymphs are also at risk of cannibalism, especially when housed together. In nature, they spread out quickly for a reason. In captivity, overcrowding and hunger often lead to one baby mantis becoming another baby mantis’s meal.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Praying Mantis
Mantids are apex predators in the insect world, but they’re not invincible. Sometimes the food they consume could be their downfall. This is especially true when prey is oversized, defensive, or potentially contaminated.
The following prey may be harmful for praying mantises:
Mantids can become prey for larger animals like frogs or spiders, depending on their size.
Mantis may be subdued by poisonous insects using their poison, such as spiders or bees with deadly stings.
Mantid eggs are known to be a food source for wasps like the Podagrion and Mantidophaga.
In both its adult and larval stages, the parasite Mantidophaga inhabits the mantis egg cases. On the mantids, the adult parasites live in clusters of about five. On a living mantis, these kinds of parasitoids can cause serious harm and reduce survival.
It is known that Tachinidae flies may parasitize some mantids, and there are other parasitoid wasps that target egg cases. The big takeaway for pet owners is simple: don’t rely heavily on random wild-caught insects for feeding, especially if you can’t identify them or don’t know where they’ve been.
Like all other animals, even these formidable hunters aren’t invincible. Keep the above in mind when feeding or taking care of mantids.
Praying Mantis Habits and Biology
Members of the insect order Mantidea are known as mantises or mantids. There are over 2,400 different species. The Praying Mantis is the largest member of the Mantidae family.
Mantids have flexible necks and triangular heads with protruding eyes. All mantids have long, flexible legs designed for catching and holding onto prey.
They quickly snare prey using their raptorial legs. The rows of spines on the front legs help them hold prey while they feed.
They’re well known for their upright, still posture, which resembles that of a person who is praying. Hence, “praying mantis.”
Mantids are typically larger in females than in males. In a peculiar ritual, some species may eat males before, during, or after mating. Sexual cannibalism is the term for the behavior. Not every mating ends this way, and it’s influenced by hunger, species, and conditions.
Lifespan: how long do praying mantises live?
Lifespan varies by species and environment. Many mantises live several months as adults, with total life cycle length depending on temperature, food supply, and seasonal conditions. In captivity, consistent conditions and food can extend survival compared to harsh wild conditions.
Are Praying Mantises Good to Have Around the House or Garden?
Mantises can be beneficial in gardens because they eat many insects that homeowners consider pests. They’re part of the natural predator system that helps keep insect populations from exploding.
However, mantises are generalist hunters. That means they don’t “only” eat bad bugs. They may also catch pollinators or other helpful insects. If you see a mantis outdoors, it’s usually best to leave it alone and let nature do its thing.
If you’re seeing frequent insect activity inside your home, that’s a separate issue—mantises themselves are usually not the problem, but the insects attracting them might be.
Do Mantids Get Parasites?
The answer is yes, mantids can get parasites. In the wild, the most common risk comes from parasitoids (certain flies and wasps) and from consuming prey that carries parasites or pathogens.
Common issues that can affect mantids include parasitoid wasps, flies, nematomorpha (horsehair worms), and fungal infections. These problems can cause poor appetite, weakness, reduced mobility, abnormal behavior, and eventual death.
For pet mantises, the most practical prevention is environmental: keep enclosures clean, avoid feeding questionable wild insects, and use safe feeder sources.
How do parasites get inside mantids?
There are several ways that parasites can enter a praying mantis:
- Through contact with infected organisms (especially in outdoor conditions)
- Through wounds or weak points after stress or injury
- Through contaminated food sources (wild-caught prey)
- Through egg cases that have been exposed to parasitoids
Once inside the mantis, parasites can feed on internal resources and reduce the insect’s ability to molt, hunt, and survive. If you suspect a parasite problem, focus first on cleaning the enclosure, reviewing feeder quality, and reducing exposure risks going forward.
FAQs About Praying Mantis Diet
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What do praying mantises eat in Florida?
Mostly insects commonly found around yards, gardens, and outdoor lighting—flies, moths, mosquitoes, small beetles, caterpillars, roaches, and similar prey.
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How often should I feed a pet praying mantis?
Feeding frequency depends on age and conditions. Babies need smaller prey more often than adults. Appetite may drop before molts, and that can be normal.
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What do baby praying mantises eat?
Tiny live insects like fruit flies, aphids, and small flies. Prey should be small enough for the nymph to overpower safely.
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Can praying mantises eat crickets?
Yes, many do. But crickets can be rough on smaller mantises and shouldn’t be left in an enclosure for long if not eaten.
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What foods should I avoid feeding a praying mantis?
Avoid prey that’s too large, highly defensive (stingers/strong biters), or likely contaminated (random wild-caught insects from sprayed areas).
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Do praying mantises eat other praying mantises?
They can, especially when food is scarce, when housed together, or during mating season.