Food
Carnivore
Praying mantises eat flies, crickets and moths.
Meat eater
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter PPraying Mantis
Praying Mantis Facts for Kids: P Is for Praying Mantis
A praying mantis holds its front legs together like it is praying. It can turn its head to look over its shoulder. Here are easy praying mantis facts for kids: what praying mantises eat, how big they grow, what a baby praying mantis is called and where praying mantises live. Read them out loud, try the quiz, then color the letter P.
Insecttype
Carnivorediet
Nymphbaby name
Fun facts
Fun Facts About Praying mantises
Two more true facts about the praying mantis that kids love. Tap the button to hear the name, then read each fact together.
Pp
Say “Praying Mantis”
Praying Mantis starts with the letter P. Clap once for each part of the word as you say it.
1
Did you know?
A mantis can turn its head almost all the way around.
2
One more fact
It holds its front legs like it is praying.
Act it outMove like a praying mantis for ten seconds.
Spot the letterFind the letter P in “Praying Mantis”.
Ask a questionWhat would a praying mantis eat for breakfast?
Quick facts
Praying Mantis Facts at a Glance
Everything a curious kid wants to know about the praying mantis, in eight short cards.
Size
How big?
A praying mantis is about 1 to 15 cm long.
Body sizeLife
How long?
Praying mantises live for about 1 year.
LifespanBaby
Nymph
A baby praying mantis is called a nymph.
Baby nameGroup
Group
A group of praying mantises is called a group.
Group nameHabitat
Gardens
Praying mantises are found in warm places worldwide.
Where they liveAnimal type
Insect
A praying mantis holds its front legs together like it is praying. It can turn its head to look over its shoulder.
Praying Mantis is an insectLetter
P is for praying mantis
Praying Mantis has 13 letters and starts with P.
Say: Praying Mantis
Quick quiz
Praying Mantis Quiz for Kids
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Praying Mantis Coloring Page: Letter P Worksheet
Done reading about the praying mantis? Print the free letter P sheet, say “P is for praying mantis” together and color the big letters. Great for circle time, morning work or a quiet afternoon at home.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase PLowercase pTracing practiceFind the P animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Praying Mantis Questions Kids Ask
Praying mantises eat flies, crickets and moths. That makes the praying mantis a carnivore, which means it is a meat eater.
A praying mantis is about 1 to 15 cm long.
Praying mantises live for about 1 year.
A baby praying mantis is called a nymph.
A group of praying mantises is called a group.
Praying mantises live in warm places worldwide. Their favorite habitat is: gardens.
Yes. The praying mantis is an insect. A praying mantis holds its front legs together like it is praying. It can turn its head to look over its shoulder.
Praying Mantis starts with the letter P. Say it slowly and listen for the P sound at the start.
Keep exploring
All P animals
More Animals Like the Praying Mantis
Other P animals and more insects to read about next.
Bird
Penguins cannot fly, but they are amazing swimmers. They use their flippers like wings to zoom through the water.
Lives in: Antarctica Read penguin factsMammal
Giant pandas spend most of their day eating bamboo. They live in misty mountain forests in China.
Lives in: Forests Read panda factsInsect
A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth.
Lives in: Gardens Read caterpillar factsInsect
Ants can carry things much heavier than their own bodies. They live together in big families called colonies.
Lives in: Everywhere Read ant facts