一、生物學特征與分類
螳螂（螳螂目Mantodea）是昆蟲綱中的肉食性昆蟲，全球現存約2400種，分為15科430屬。其顯著特征包括：

1.形態特化
前足特化為“捕捉足”，布滿鋸齒，攻擊速度僅需0.01秒
頭部可旋轉180°，復眼由約10,000個小眼組成，具備立體視覺
體色多為綠色或褐色，部分種類（如蘭花螳螂）能擬態花朵
2.演化歷史
與蟑螂同源，最早化石記錄可追溯至白堊紀
現存種類主要分布于熱帶至溫帶地區，中國常見中華大刀螳等
二、捕食行為與生存策略
螳螂是頂級掠食者，其捕食技巧堪稱昆蟲界典范：
1.獵食范圍
主食昆蟲（蠅、蚊、蝗蟲等），大型種類可捕食小鳥、蜥蜴甚至蛇類
北美引入的中華大刀螳對蜂鳥種群構成威脅
2.捕食機制
伏擊策略：靜止偽裝，突襲時速達0.1秒
地棲種類（如Ligariella）主動追擊獵物，行為類似虎甲蟲
3.極端適應
耐餓能力：可絕食數周
性食同類：雌性交配后常捕食雄蟲，以提高卵子營養
三、生命周期與繁殖
螳螂的生存周期展現獨特進化智慧：
1.發育階段
不完全變態：卵→若蟲（蛻皮711次）→成蟲
卵鞘（螵蛸）含70100粒卵，越冬孵化
2.壽命與習性
野外壽命68個月，人工飼養可延長至1年
若蟲期自相殘殺率高，成蟲期領地意識強
四、生態價值與文化象征
螳螂在自然與人文領域均具重要意義：
1.生態作用
控制40余種農業害蟲，如蝗蟲、蛾類
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2.文化寓意
中國玉雕中象征“家和萬事興”“勇敢力量”
成語“螳螂捕蟬”警示貪圖小利的風險
3.現代威脅
農藥使用致種群下降60%
入侵物種（如北美螳螂）破壞本地生態
當螳螂舉起“鐮刀般”的前足，這些演化億年的獵手正以精準與殘酷維系著生態平衡。從《詩經》的“螓首蛾眉”到現代生物防治，螳螂始終是自然與文明交織的傳奇符號。