Praying Mantis Facts Praying mantis are one of the best insects to have around to keep pest insects away from your property, fruit trees, plants and flowers. Praying mantis are insects. Their closest bug relatives are cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets, stick insects and termites. Praying mantis have 3 main body parts similar to other insects. These body parts include the head, thorax and abdomen. Praying mantis have 6 legs, including their distinctive two thicker front legs that appear like they are praying. They use their front legs to hold onto their prey after they catch them. Praying mantis are a type of insect called Mantids. Did you know that there are over 2000 different types of Praying Mantis? Praying mantis are born from an egg. Praying mantis have a unique long body with a hard exoskeleton. Their exoskeleton has colors and features that look like the plants where the praying mantis lives. Sometimes their exoskeleton looks almost identical to plant leaves or flower pe