- This pouch is known as an ootheca and contains dozens to hundreds of eggs.
- After hatching, nymphs often eat each other in a brutal display of natural selection.
- Females can lay up to 400 eggs in a single ootheca.
- The lifespan of these insects is usually about a year, but it varies by species and environmental conditions.
- Due to their predatory nature, they are beneficial for controlling pests in gardens and farms.
- They can swivel their heads to watch their own backs—a unique feature among insects.
- Their slow, deliberate movements help them blend in with their surroundings, making them effective ambush predators.
- Male’s flight during mating season is risky, increasing the likelihood of being spotted by both females and predators.
- They are known to eat their prey alive, typically starting with the head to disable it quickly.
- Their prehensile forelegs grab and hold prey in a vice-like grip.
