Hatch Your Own Praying Mantises!

No one knows better than kids do that nature is amazing. Thrill your child with the wonder and science of life as you guide her through creating a habitat in which she can hatch her very own praying mantises. Praying mantises hatch in the Spring, so this is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend some quality time with your child.

In the first part of this activity, "Introduction to Baby Mantises," your child will engage in the foundational steps of the scientific process — observation and prediction. In the second part, "Making the Mantis Habitat," she will learn first-hand what the praying mantis needs to hatch, survive, and grow. Your child will find that constucting the mantis habitat is rewarding work, which can yield 50-200 baby mantises!

Introduction to Baby Mantises

What You Need:

• Mantis egg case (you can order one from a biological supply company)
• Photo of a mantis laying eggs (you can find one easily on the internet)

What You Do:

1. Order the mantis egg case from a biological company.
2. With great drama, tell a story about the mother mantis laying her eggs.

   Once upon a time, the mother mantis got ready to lay her eggs. She squeezed some foam out of her body onto a branch. Then she squeezed her eggs out of her body and into the foam. The foam got hard and the eggs were safe inside. Whether it rained or snowed, the eggs stayed dry inside the foam while the baby mantises grew and got ready to hatch.

3. Find a photograph of a mantis laying eggs to use as a prop.
4. Show the mantis’ egg case and ask your child to touch it with just one finger. (Once the egg case has hatched, the children can handle it more thoroughly and even cut it open.)
5. Ask your child:
   • When do you think the insects will hatch?
   • What will the hatchlings look like?
   • How many babies will there be?
6. Have your child draw a picture of what the baby mantises might look like. If she asks where the mother mantis is during this time, tell her that many animal babies do not need to be taken care of by a parent when they hatch because are ready to take care of themselves.

Now, your child is ready to prepare a home for the baby mantises! Follow the steps below to turn this science lesson into an unforgettable experience.