What Mantises Reveal About Insect Evolution

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Praying mantises are some of the most captivating predators in the insect world, with their raptorial forelegs, uncanny stillness, and swiveling heads that seem almost alert to a human observer. But mantises are just one branch of a larger family tree called Dictyoptera, which also includes termites and cockroaches, giving scientists a unique window into how such different lifestyles, from ambush hunting to cooperative colony living, could have arisen from shared ancestry. Entomologist Jessica Ware explores the evolutionary history of mantises, examining their hunting behavior, physiology, and relationships to their Dictyoptera relatives to reveal how this striking group came to be. Ware is a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, where she serves as chair of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology. General Information View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom .