Hannah taught her students many things, but as with any instructor had one subject that was paid special attention to — a favorite specimen.
“Now this is my obsession, the praying mantis.”
The mantis is a master of concealment for that is the basis of its survival. It can blend into most anything — a leaf, a branch, even a stone.
With a binocular field of vision, its eyes function as one, and without moving the remainder of its body, the mantis lingers for its prey to roam too near. When threatened, this insect will spread its arms in a foreboding stance. However it is not venomous, and therefore is only able to conclude its victim’s life by desperate biting. At the moment of its discovery (its camouflage an obvious disguise) the mantis becomes most vulnerable.
The deadliest predator of the mantis is the mantis itself. The female is notorious for biting the head off of the male to secure proper fertilization, and it is well-known that when confined, the praying mantis is more than willing to become a cannibal.
The mantis can turn its head 360 degrees, the only insect able to do so. Unfortunately this means nothing, because you can’t make someone see anything outside of one’s own head.∗