Mantodea are invertebrates that include the praying mantises, with an estimated 2400 living species. The Order Mantodea evolved about 140 million years ago, based on current evidence. Characteristics of mantodeans generally include a large triangular head, two large eyes and a few small eyes, a pair of antennae, a pair of forelegs designed for grasping and holding prey, and two pairs of wings (when wings are present).
Kingdom: Animalia
-Phylum: Arthropoda
–Class: Insecta
—Order Mantodea
I have photographed one family of Mantodea so far:
–Peruvian Leaf Mantis (Pseudoxyops perpulchra)