Praying mantis (praying mantis, mantis) - Mantis (English spelling)

Japanese: カマキリ(蟷螂∥螳螂) - カマキリ（英語表記）mantis

A general term for insects belonging to the order Mantodea, or one of these species. Praying mantises appear as adults from the end of summer and are often seen among grass. They are carnivorous. They mate in the fall and then lay egg sacs on grass stems and twigs, or on the exterior walls of houses. The eggs in the egg sacs overwinter and hatch into larvae around May of the following year. Even as larvae, they are highly predatory, consuming large numbers of small insects during their lifetime, making them valuable as beneficial insects. Praying mantises in Japan consist of two families: the Mantidae and the Hymenopodidae.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

カマキリ目Mantodeaに属する昆虫の総称，またはそのうちの1種を指す。カマキリの仲間は，夏の終りころから成虫が現れ，草間に多く見られる。肉食性。秋になると交尾し，やがて草の茎や小枝，または人家の外壁などに卵囊を産みつける。卵囊内の卵はそのまま越冬し，翌年5月ころに孵化（ふか）し，幼虫となる。幼虫時から捕食性が強く，一生の間に多量の小昆虫を捕食し，いわゆる益虫としての価値が高い。　日本のカマキリ類はカマキリ科Mantidaeとヒメカマキリ科Hymenopodidaeの2科よりなる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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