The head is short and loosely attached so that the mantid can look over its shoulder. The eyes are very large, convex, and prominent. The adult has leathery front wings and membranous hind wings.
Mantids vary from light green to dark brown in color.
Mantids are closely related to cockroaches. They are found on the foliage of trees, shrubs, and other plants, where they wait for their prey with their front legs raised. Although the mantids devour a large number of honeybees and other beneficial insects, they probably more than make up for this loss by destroying a large number of harmful ones. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. In northern states, there is only one generation a year.