With its folded front legs and watchful eyes, the praying mantis looks like it's deep in prayer—but is it really? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of the mantis: from its amazing hunting skills and five incredible eyes, to whether female mantises really eat their mates. Along the way, we'll discover how even the strangest creatures in nature reflect the creativity of our amazing God—and how creation itself can teach us to worship Him.

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Praying Mantis?
• Is the Praying Mantis Really Praying?
• How Does a Praying Mantis Hunt?
• Do Female Praying Mantises Eat Their Mates?
• How Does Creation Worship God?

Episode Links:

• Get 10% off with code NatTheo10 and enjoy a FREE week of the Flourish Family Bible Curriculum: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/pages/free-week-of-flourish
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in  the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Praying Mantis Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/praying-mantis-facts/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27 (NCV)

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

    or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

Speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

    or let the fish of the sea tell you.

Every one of these knows

    that the hand of the Lord has done this.

The life of every creature

    and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.” Job 12:7-10 (NCV)

“Let the skies rejoice and the earth be glad;

let the sea and everything in it shout.

Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.” Psalm 96:11-12 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Mantodea: An order, like a category, of insects that have long bodies, long folded front arms, and triangular heads. They are known for their unique and efficient hunting strategies.
• Mantis Religiosa: A specific species of insect in the mantodea order. It’s the one we often think of when we think about the praying mantis.
• Raptorial Forelegs: The praying mantis’s front legs that are strong and spiky, made for grabbing and holding onto prey—like built-in prey-catching tools!
• Ambush Predator: A creature that stays very still and waits quietly for its prey to come close, then quickly jumps out to catch it—like a surprise attack.
• Compound Eye: A special kind of eye made of many tiny lenses that help insects like the praying mantis see movement and what’s around them.
• Psuedopupil: A dark spot you see on some insect eyes, like a praying mantis or a fly. It looks like a real pupil, but it’s not. It’s caused by how light is absorbed and reflected.
• Ocelli: Tiny simple eyes on top of a praying mantis’s and other insect’s heads that help them sense light and dark.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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