a mantis is a form of:

Mantis



noun — Plural: mantes, mantises
1.
(an insect resembling a grasshopper, with spiny forelegs often held up together as if praying) កណ្ដូបសេះ
ENGLISH MEANING
noun — Plural: mantes, mantises
1.
Any one of numerous species of voracious orthopterous insects of the genus Mantis, and allied genera. They are remarkable for their slender grotesque forms, and for holding their stout anterior legs in a manner suggesting hands folded in prayer. The common American species is M. Carolina.