Mantis

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New Horizons bugs
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Mantis
Image gallery
Real-world info
Name: Tenodera aridifolia Family: Mantidae - Mantids
Main appearances
DnM DnM+ AC DnMe+ iQue WW CF NL NH
Other appearances
Film HHD aF PC
Names in other languages  カマキリ  螳螂  Mante religieuse  Mantis religiosa  Mantide  Богомол  사마귀  螳螂  Mante religieuse  Mantis religiosa  Gottesanbeterin  Bidsprinkhaan

The mantis is a bug in the Animal Crossing series that has appeared in every game to date. Starting in Animal Crossing: City Folk, when the mantis is approached, it will raise its head in defense. If disturbed long enough, it flies away into the air with a buzzing noise.

In the games that the mantis appears in, it is an uncommon bug that the player can encounter, and can be found on flowers. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it can be caught from spring to fall.

Catch details

In Animal Crossing

#19

"I caught a praying mantis! Some people keep these as pets, you know?"

DnM / iQue

DnM+ / AC

DnMe+

Time of year	Aug – Oct
Time of day	8 AM – 5 PM
Location	On flowers
Weather	Any except rain
Selling price	430 Bells
Furniture size

In Wild World

#15

"I caught a mantis! The hunter is the hunted!"

Description	They will attack larger insects. Their front legs fold as if they are praying.
Time of year	Aug – Nov
Time of day	8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times	8 AM – 4 PM (Sep – Nov)
Location	On flowers
Bug size	82 mm
Selling price	430 Bells
Furniture size

In City Folk

#16

"I caught a mantis! He didn't have a prayer!"

Description	Exclusively predatory, these will attack insects larger than themselves.
Time of year	Apr – Nov
Time of day	8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times	Sep – Nov: 8 AM – 4 PM
Location	On flowers
Bug size	82 mm
Rarity	Very uncommon
Selling price	430 Bells
Furniture size

In New Leaf

#17

"I caught a mantis! Time to pay your respects!"

Time of year	Apr – Nov All year (Tortimer Island)
Time of day	8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times	Sep – Nov: 8 AM – 4 PM
Location	On flowers (can be found on Tortimer Island)
Size	82 mm
Rarity	Very uncommon
Selling price	430 Bells
Furniture size

In New Horizons

#22

"I caught a mantis! Man, 'tis so cool!"

Time of year	North: Mar – Nov South: Sep – May
Time of day	8 AM – 5 PM
Location	On flowers
Weather	Any except rain
Spawn requirement	Appears from the start of the game
Selling prices	Nook's Cranny:  430 Bells  Flick:  645 Bells
Furniture size

Donating to the museum

As with all fish and bugs in the Animal Crossing series, the mantis can be donated to the museum. Upon donation, Blathers will say the following in their respective games:

In Animal Crossing

"Ah yes, the infamous mantis...Tell me, does it seem to you that it's almost TOO aware of us? Like it's studying us...It's rather as if it were questioning our reason for existence, eh wot? It's eyes...They're far too judgmental. Additionally, the manner in which it uses its scythe-like forelegs to kill and feed...So very vivid! So graphic! Blech! Grisly little beast!"

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, <Player>, 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 atop a rose on the upper terrace.

In New Leaf

The mantis resting on some flowers in the museum 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."

In New Horizons

"Hoo! Don't let the mantis's angelic pose fool you... for it is truly monstrous. The mantis is known for its large size and tremendous strength...and for sickle-like arms that pack a punch. And though they tend to eat bugs and spiders...mantises have been known to dine on small animals too! And those eerie eyes! Oh my! Did you know it has five of them! Two big ones and three small!"

Once donated to the museum, the mantis can be found on the tropical flower bed near the butterfly exhibit with the stinkbug and the tiger beetle.

Gallery

For more images, view this subject's gallery.

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  Animal Crossing

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  Animal Crossing: Wild World

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  Animal Crossing: City Folk

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  Animal Crossing: New Leaf

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  Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Real-world information

A real-life mantis

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 Tenodera aridifolia, the Japanese giant mantis, a large species of mantis that can be found across East to Southeast Asia.

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. They are strictly carnivorous, and rarely think twice about attacking larger animals.

Names in other languages

	カマキリ Kamakiri	Mantis
	사마귀 Samagwi	Mantis
	螳螂 Tángláng	Mantis
	Богомол Bogomol	Mantis
	Bidsprinkhaan	Mantis
	Gottesanbeterin	Mantis, lit. Female God Worshiper
	Mantis religiosa	Religious mantis (due to its pose, resembling praying)
	Mante religieuse	Religious mantis (due to its pose, resembling praying)
	Mantide	Mantis