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| Last Updated:: 07/12/2012

Praying Mantis

 


 

 

Scientific name

Mantis religiosa Linn

Common name

Devil’s riding horse

Marathi

Khandobache ghoda

Distribution

Throughout India

Religious Association

The insects are in fact named for their typical ‘prayer-like’ stance. The word ‘mantis derives from the Greek word mantis for prophet or fortune teller.

Among the Gonds of Vidarbha (Maharashtra), the vaid or medicine man keeps a praying mantis as a pet. he worships the insect and uses it for fortune telling.

For more  information, please refer " Sacred Animals Of India"  by Nanditha  Krishna, Penguin book India , 2010

ISBN 9780143066194