Wikipedia:Today's second feature/September 11, 2005
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A praying mantis is a kind of insect of the family Mantidae (order Mantodea), named for their "prayer-like" stance. (The word mantis in Greek means prophet.) There are approximately 2,000 species world-wide; most are tropical or subtropical. Mantids are masters of camouflage and make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. Their diet usually consists of living insects, including flies and aphids.
Photo credit: Shiva shankar