Praying mantis nymph (Thespidae: Musonia sp.) from Panama. Mantises are frequently found hanging like this on vegetation, which confers several advantages. In addition to providing cover from predators, hanging upside down allows mantises to conserve energy, and provides a strategic lookout point. Lastly, they can even take advantage of gravity itself to launch themselves with greater force at their prey.
American Grass Mantis, genus Thesprotia, from Belize.
A Chinese mantis nymph (Tenodera sinensis) next to its recent molt in Iowa.
