Miss Mary Fishel's EMH class at Todd Central High School, in Elkton, Ky., for their question:

WHAT DOES THE PRAYING MANTIS EAT?

The praying mantis is an insect that is also called the Mantid. When he rests, he lifts his front legs and it appears that he is praying.

A praying mantis is among the greediest of all insects. He feeds not only on other kinds of insects but on other mantids as well. A female mantid doesn't hesitate to devour her own mate if she is hungry. She prefers to eat her prey alive.

A female mantid will lay her eggs in masses. She glues the eggs to trees and shrubs with a sticky substance from her body. The eggs remain there during the winter, and the young hatch in spring.

The praying mantis is definitely a good guy. He helps man by eating lots of harmful insects.