Praying Mantis for Kids: The Fierce and Fascinating Hunting Insect

Did you know a praying mantis can strike its prey in just 50 milliseconds - nearly 15 times faster than a human blink? The praying mantis is one of nature's most extraordinary hunters - the only insect with true 3D vision, the only one that can turn its head all the way around, and one of the very few that can hear a bat coming and dodge out of the way. Now your young explorer can discover every incredible secret of this fierce and fascinating insect. Inside this book, kids will discover: - Why the praying mantis is the only insect on Earth with true stereoscopic vision - and how it uses this superpower to calculate the exact distance to its prey before striking- How those famous "praying" arms are actually deadly raptorial weapons lined with two rows of locking spines - and why nothing that gets caught ever escapes- What the pseudopupil is - the mysterious dark spot in a mantis's eye that seems to follow you wherever you move- How the orchid mantis looks so convincingly like a flower that bees fly directly toward it - making it one of nature's most beautiful and deadly traps- Where praying mantises live - from tropical rainforests and rocky deserts to ordinary backyard gardens on every continent except Antarctica- How baby mantises hatch from a papery foam egg case and begin hunting insects on their very first day of life - with no help from parents- Why a praying mantis's eyes turn black at night - and the remarkable way the eye adjusts itself to see in both bright sunlight and total darkness- What you can do to help praying mantises thrive in your garden - and why finding one is a sign your local ecosystem is healthyPacked with stunning photographs, fascinating praying mantis facts for kids, and easy-to-read chapters, this nonfiction book brings one of nature's most misunderstood and magnificent insects to vivid life. Perfect for curious kids ages 6-10 who love insects, wildlife, and the natural world - and a brilliant gift for any young nature lover. Fierce. Patient. Utterly extraordinary. Part of The Great Book of Animal Knowledge series.