a slender predatory insect related to the cockroach. It waits motionless for prey with its large spiky forelegs folded like hands in prayer 螳螂
Suborder Mantodea, order Dictyoptera: Mantidae and other families, and many species, including Mantis religiosa of southern Europe 螳螂亚目,脉翅目: 螳螂科及其他科,多种,包括南欧薄翅螳螂(拉丁名Mantis religiosa)
语源
mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, literally prophet'