Desert Praying Mantis Sphodromantis spp.

There are several species of Desert (Praying) Mantis in the Sphodromantis genus, all native to Africa and mainly a sandy-brown colour for camouflage. They grow up to 8 cm long and, like other mantises, eat other insects, including their own kind.

Female Mantises lay a foam-like sac of eggs called an "ootheca" (above) from which hundreds of baby mantises hatch.