Grasshoppers and praying mantises are two of the more common insects you’re likely to see in your backyard or local park. They live in many different ecosystems all over the world.
But while they may both be bugs, they’re also very different. This article will compare and contrast the grasshopper vs. the praying mantis, highlighting key similarities and, more often, key differences.
We’ll cover their classification, physical characteristics, habitat, diet, behavior, and life cycle so you can tell them apart.
Classification and Taxonomy
While you’ll often see grasshoppers and praying mantises out in the same fields and gardens, they’re classified very differently.
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers belong to the order Orthoptera, which means “straight wings” in Greek, referring to how their wings fold straight back along their bodies at rest. Within Orthoptera, you’ll find a wide array of families, with Acrididae being the one that encompasses your typical grasshoppers.
Praying Mantises
Praying mantises, on the other hand, are members of the order Mantodea. The name Mantodea means “mantis-like.” The Mantidae family is probably the best-known within this order.
Interestingly, praying mantises are actually more closely related to cockroaches and termites than they are to grasshoppers. It’s just one of those things that seems a little surprising when you first hear it!
Physical Characteristics: Form and Function
Grasshoppers and praying mantises are built to thrive in their respective ecological niches. Here’s a look at their defining physical traits:
Grasshoppers
A grasshopper’s body is divided into three sections: a head, thorax, and abdomen.
Key features include their powerful hind legs, which they use to jump to escape predators. They also have antennae and mouthparts designed for chewing tough plant matter. On the sides of their abdomen are tympanal organs that allow them to hear.
There are two main types of grasshoppers: short-horned and long-horned. Short-horned grasshoppers are typically smaller and have shorter antennae than their long-horned cousins.
Praying Mantises
Like the grasshopper, the praying mantis has a head, thorax, and abdomen. But the mantis also has an elongated thorax, which gives it a distinctive appearance.
A mantis’s forelegs are specially adapted for grasping prey, a feature known as raptorial forelegs. They also have a triangular head with large compound eyes that give them excellent vision. The mantis’s coloring and camouflage abilities allow it to blend in with its surroundings, making it an effective ambush predator.
Where do they live?
Grasshoppers live all over the world in grasslands, meadows, and even agricultural fields. You might find them in a backyard garden, a grassy ditch, or a field of wheat.
Praying mantises prefer warmer climates and places with lots of insects to eat. You can find them in gardens, forests, and even sometimes in your house. They blend in well with plants, so you have to look closely.
Diet and Feeding Behavior
Grasshoppers and praying mantises have vastly different diets and hunting styles.
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are mostly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They’re especially fond of grasses, leaves, and crops. They have chewing mouthparts that help them consume all sorts of plant matter.
Grasshoppers are a major headache for farmers. Large swarms can wipe out entire fields of crops, causing significant economic damage and food shortages.
Praying Mantises
Praying mantises, on the other hand, are carnivores, meaning they eat meat. They’re predators who enjoy dining on insects, spiders, and even small frogs and lizards.
They have specialized raptorial forelegs that are designed for grabbing and holding prey. Praying mantises are ambush hunters, which means they lie in wait and then strike quickly when their prey gets close.
They’re masters of disguise. They use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings so they can sneak up on their prey undetected. They can also turn their heads 180 degrees, giving them a wide field of vision to scan for potential meals.
Behavior and Social Interactions
Grasshoppers and praying mantises have very different approaches to life, and that’s reflected in their behavior and how they interact with the world.
Grasshoppers
Some grasshoppers, like locusts, are famous for their swarming behavior and massive migrations. They communicate by stridulation, which is when they rub their legs together to make a chirping sound. They’re active during the day (diurnal), hopping around and munching on plants.
Praying Mantises
Praying mantises, on the other hand, are generally loners. They’re territorial and prefer to keep to themselves. One of the most well-known (and slightly disturbing) aspects of their behavior is the cannibalistic tendency of females, especially during or after mating. They’re masters of camouflage, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. When threatened, they’ll often put on a defensive display, raising their forelegs and spreading their wings to appear larger and more intimidating.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Both grasshoppers and praying mantises go through a type of development called incomplete metamorphosis. That means they hatch from an egg, go through a nymph stage, and then become an adult.
Grasshoppers
Grasshopper nymphs look like smaller versions of adult grasshoppers, only without wings. As they grow, they shed their exoskeletons in a process called molting. Environmental factors like temperature and the availability of food can play a role in how quickly they develop.
Praying Mantises
Like grasshoppers, praying mantises hatch from eggs into nymphs that resemble miniature adults. Mantis moms lay their eggs in a foamy, protective case called an ootheca. Nymphs molt several times as they grow, looking more and more like adult mantises with each shed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the downside of praying mantis?
While generally beneficial in gardens, praying mantises are indiscriminate predators. They’ll eat beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, along with pests. Also, the female praying mantis sometimes eats the male after or even during mating, which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a downer.
What is the symbiotic relationship between praying mantis and grasshopper?
There isn’t a symbiotic relationship between praying mantises and grasshoppers; it’s more of a predator-prey dynamic. The praying mantis is a predator, and the grasshopper is often its prey. The praying mantis benefits by getting a meal, while the grasshopper… well, it doesn’t benefit at all.
What insects can defeat a praying mantis?
While praying mantises are formidable predators, they aren’t invincible. Some insects that can defeat them include larger hornets or wasps, particularly those that attack in groups. Also, certain types of ants, especially army ants, can overwhelm and kill a praying mantis through sheer numbers. It really depends on size, strength, and numbers.
Closing Thoughts
Grasshoppers and praying mantises, both common insects, are very different creatures. Grasshoppers are herbivores with strong legs for jumping, while praying mantises are carnivores with grasping forelimbs and camouflage that helps them hunt.
Each insect is perfectly adapted to its ecological niche, showing us how evolution shapes life. Both play important roles in their ecosystems, and it’s essential to remember the vital contributions of insects and the need to protect them. After all, a world without buzzing, chirping, and crawling creatures would be a much quieter place.