Kankakee, IL – Residents across Illinois may be noticing an unusual number of praying mantises perched on flowers, porches, and gardens as the season changes. These waning days of summer mark one of the most active periods in the life cycle of the predatory insect, but experts say the surge won’t last long.
According to entomologists, mantises reach full maturity in late summer and early autumn. By this stage, they are fully grown, focused on mating, and preparing to lay eggs before the onset of winter. The females deposit their eggs in a frothy substance that hardens into a protective case, ensuring a new generation will hatch next spring. While the adults won’t survive beyond the first frosts, their offspring will emerge by the hundreds when warmer days return.
Mantises are known for their fascinating — and sometimes unsettling — behaviors. Males often battle for the right to mate, and the winner may not live long afterward. It is not uncommon for the female to consume her partner following mating. When the tiny nymphs hatch in spring, their first meals are frequently their own siblings, beginning the cycle anew.
The insects’ recent visibility is also linked to weather. Being cold-blooded, mantises thrive in warm but not excessively hot conditions. They tend to hunt most actively during cooler evenings, often feeding on other insects under the cover of twilight.
With their distinctive posture and predatory precision, praying mantises remain one of nature’s most captivating hunters. Locals who encounter one in their yard this season are witnessing a brief but critical chapter in an ancient cycle that will reset next spring.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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