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.

 refers to the Player's name.

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:

Wild World

 * Size: 82 mm.
 * Season: Summer.
 * Time: Midday.
 * They will attack larger insects. Their front legs fold as if they are praying.

City Folk

 * Size: 23 mm.
 * Season: Summer.
 * Time: All Day.
 * Exclusively predatory, these will attack insects larger than themselves.

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.