Mantis

The mantis (plural: mantids) is a relatively uncommon insect found in. It can be found on flowers during the day, between 8am to 5pm.

When approached in City Folk, the mantis adopts an agressive position.

Donating to the Museum
As with all fish and insects in the series, the mantis can be donated to the Museum. Blathers will say the following in their respective games:

In Wild World
"I imagine you'll think I'm having a bit of fun, but I assure you, I am serious... After mating, the female mantis will kill the male and devour him on the spot! Blech! The very thought gives me the gags! I must say, I consider myself most fortunate not to have been born a mantis. Hoo, I might have had to squash myself..."

In City Folk
"Tell me, , have you ever seen the egg case of a mantis? It's not much to look at really. Just a little sack about the size of your fist. It's not even all that vile... But come spring, it bursts asunder and hundreds of baby mantises spring forth! I daresay my issues with bugs began when one such egg case ruptured within my desk. The horror..."

The mantis can be found towards the back of the museum, perched on the rose on the upper terrace.

In New Leaf
Upon being donated, the mantis can be found in the room of the bug exhibit with the light in, resting on some flowers near the light. The exhibit has this to say about the Mantis:

"Mantises are known for the praying pose they sit in while ambushing unsuspecting prey. They'll snatch whatever is moving nearby and can even capture creatures larger than themselves. When threatened, mantises will spread their thin green wings to appear more intimidating."

Encyclopedia Information
When the player, has caught a mantis, they can find information about the insect in the bug menu. Below is the information regarding the mantis:

Further Information
It is unclear as to what type of mantis appears in Animal Crossing, as there are roughly 2000 species world-wide. However, it seems likely that it is Hierodula patellifera, the Giant Asian mantis, a widespread variety of mantis that can be found across South Asia and the Pacific islands.

Mantids can be traced back to over 35 million years ago, and are related to cockroaches. They can be found across temperate and tropic areas all across the world, and can fly. Mantids are strictly carnivourous, and rarely think twice about attacking larger animals.