Generally, the insect cannot turn its head 180 or 360 degrees; but only one insect can. If you are looking for – what is the only one insect that can turn its head 180 and 360 degrees, this is the best place (platform) to get your answer.
Quick answer: praying mantis is the only insect to turn its head. This mantis insect has a flexible joint (ball and socket) between the head and thorax, which help them to turn its head 180 or 360 degrees.
Here, I will show you the head, neck, and thorax structures with their articulation. After completing this article, you may understand the mechanism of why the praying mantis can turn their head like a human.
Again, at the end of this article, I will provide information on the structure of the head and thorax of some other insects (like ants and bugs). With the help of this information, you may compare why these insects cannot turn their head like praying mantis.
So, if you wish to get the full information on the structure of an insect’s head and thorax, along with their other peculiar features, let’s continue this article till the end.
What is the only one insect that can turn its head
The basic structure of the head, neck, and thorax are almost similar in different insects. But, a little variation may be found in some insects’ heads and thorax, showing some exceptional features.
From the labeled diagram, let’s see the structural (external) feature of the head, neck (cervical), and thorax of the praying mantis. Again, the other labeled diagram shows the structure of the neck region of an ideal insect.
These might help you to analyze – what is the only (1) insect that can turn its head? Both ideal insects and praying mantis possess the basic structure of a head, neck (varying in length), and thorax.
In any insect’s general external anatomical facts, they possess only 3 segments in their body – head, thorax, and abdomen. Most insects have short necks which connect their head with the thorax.
Again, in some insects, you cannot identify the neck externally. But, if you notice the external anatomical facts of the praying mantis, you will find a longer neck that connects the head with the thorax.
Again, the articulation between the neck and head of the praying mantis shows a flexible type. This is why they (praying mantis) may turn their head 180 or 360 degrees as, like humans.
So, the only insect that can turn its head: is Praying Mantis.
If you see the external features of the ideal insect’s head, neck, and thorax, you will see a more stable connection between them. Sometimes, you cannot identify the neck separately in some insects, and they possess a more stable connection between the head and thorax.
Unique facts of praying mantis
The praying mantis is a strong ambush predator insect. They are harmless and friendly to people and may be kept as insect pets.
Here, I will show you some special facts of praying mantis that make them different from other insects. Let’s see what the special facts that find in the praying mantis are –
- Praying mantis is an ambush predators (they wait for feed to come to them),
- There are more than 2100+ species of insects mantis (but few of them can keep as pets),
- Praying mantis can look over their shoulder (but other insects cannot do that),
- They can turn their head more than 180 to 360 degrees (which is an exceptional feature in insect family),
- During praying time, mantis rub their forelegs together,
- They are considered the best hunter among the insect family,
- You will find 5 eyes in praying mantis – 2 of them of the compound, and 3 are simple,
- After successful mating, female praying mantis sometimes eat the male mantis,
If you want to keep (raise) a praying mantis as a pet, you might have to provide special care. They are cannibalistic, which means they can eat each other.
So, you should keep only one praying mantis in a single cage.
Why did they call praying mantis?
The praying mantis is the largest insect (average length 3 – 5 inches) with a unique resting posture. You will find 6 legs in the praying mantis anatomy.
The first pair of a leg of the praying mantis is highly modified and help up or rub together if they pray anything. Here, the first pair of legs are stronger than the remaining 2 pairs.
Again, you will find raptorial claws in their legs. These claws of praying mantis help them to grasp or capture the prey.
You will also find 2 pairs of wings in the body of a praying mantis. These 2 pairs of wings may use to fly. But, they also used to defect the prey.
A different study shows that the praying mantis is 80 – 90% successful in preying. Due to their external anatomical facts and preying habit, these are considered as the praying mantis.
The praying mantis looks like a plant leaf, so the prey cannot identify them. When the praying mantis catches its prey, they first eat the head and then the rest of the body.
Praying mantis has a highly developed vision. They possess 2 compound eyes and 3 simple eyes with individual photoreceptor cells.
The neck of the mantis is exceptional compared to other different insects. They possess a highly moveable neck by which they can turn their head in any direction.
The praying mantis is carnivorous and attaches to other invertebrates. Sometimes, they can attach small amphibians, lizards, and hummingbirds.
The praying mantis is not poisonous, but they possess sticks in their claws. So, these claws may cause some damage to people while handling them.
What is the only structure in the mantis that can turn its head?
If you want to understand the structure of a mantis that can turn its head in a different direction, you might know the anatomical facts of the head, neck, and thorax. Here, I will show you some important anatomical facts from the mantis’s head, neck, and thorax.
After reading this information, you will easily understand – what is the only structure in a mantis insect that can turn its head 180 or 360 degrees.
Short answer: the flexible or moveable joint of the neck and head helps the praying mantis insect to turn its head in a different direction (180 or 360 degrees).
Summary of the mantis external features
The body of different insects, like praying mantis, is built on a segmental plan. You will find the complex and jointed exoskeleton in the mantis body.
A series of rigid plates (sclerites, also known as cuticles) from the exoskeleton covers the outer surface of the mantis body. These sclerites join with each other by a flexible membrane.
Thus these jointed sclerites provide the flexible movement of one to the next. Again, the dorsal segment of sclerites joins with the ventral segment by the lateral membranous structure. Thus, they (mantis) can move their body very precisely.
All these segments of sclerites are normally grouped into 3 main parts of the mantis – head, thorax, and abdomen. In the neck region of the praying mantis, you will find modified sclerites with more flexible articulation.
Due to the more flexible articulation of the mantis neck region, they can quickly turn their head in a different direction than other insects.
Now, let’s get into the anatomical facts of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen of the praying mantis. But, I will show you the main and interesting facts about these body parts from the praying mantis.
But, you may learn more about the different parts of an ideal inset body parts from the below-mentioned article –
- How many body parts do insects have?
Praying mantis head
The head of the praying mantis possesses a heavily sclerotized capsule. Here, the strong head of a praying mantis connects with the thorax by a long membranous neck.
You know the head of any insect-derived from the primitive pre-oral and post-oral segments (embryonic). In the structure of the praying mantis mouth part, you will see the below-mentioned structures –
- Labrum and mandible,
- Maxillae and labium,
- Two antennae and proboscis,
- Compound eye and ocelli,
In the internal structure of a praying mantis, you will find different ridges. These ridges fused to form the internal skeleton of a praying mantis.
All these structures of the head of a praying mantis provide strength and attachment of different muscles. They also provide support and protection for the mantis brain and also the foregut.
The mouthpart of the praying mantis encloses the oral cavity, which may divide into 2 sections by hypopharynx –
- Cibarium – large section enclose between hypopharynx and labrum, and
- Salivarium – small section located between hypopharynx and labium,
You know the salivary gland’s duct of a praying mantis opens into the second small cavity (salivarium).
The upper surfaces of the mantis head don’t show any segmentation. But, it is marked by the number of grooves known as sulci.
These sulci of the mantis brain provide more rigidity. You will see a thick neck at the ventral part of the mantis head. This thick neck of the mantis is composed of membranous capsules or sclerites.
Let’s see the anatomical facts of the praying mantis neck that will provide great information to understand why they move in a different direction.
How a praying mantis turns its head (a mechanism) – neck structure
Not all insects possess a long neck like the praying mantis. The neck of the praying mantis is a membranous structure that provides the free movement of its head.
This neck extends from the postocciput (1) at the back of the head to the prothorax of the praying mantis. So, this neck of the mantis represents the posterior part of the labial segment together with the anterior part of the prothorax segment.
The sclerite segments of the mantis neck are numerous compared to the other insects. Here, the first segment of sclerite articulates with the occipital condyle (2) at the back of the mantis’s head.
The first segment of sclerite is very small in mantis, but the second segment is larger. Here, the second sclerite of the mantis neck articulates with the first one by the ball and socket joint.
And you know this type of joint (ball and socket) allows movements in a different direction. Again, the other sclerites of the manits neck possess the same types of ball and socket joints.
This is why the mantis can turn its head 180 or 360 degrees.
Again, you will find different muscles at the mantis neck, which are directly involved in moving its head in different directions. Most of the muscles of the mantis neck arise from the postocciput and insect on the cervical sclerites.
The contraction of these muscles increases the angle between the sclerites, and thus the head is pushed forward. Again, the muscle arises from the ventral aspect that inserts onto the second cervical sclerites.
This muscle helps in the lateral movement of the praying mantis head. Again, some other muscles that are inserted into the prothorax help in the lateral movement of the praying mantis head.
Thorax and abdomen of praying mantis
The thorax of a praying mantis possesses 3 segments like an ideal segment – prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. Most of the ideal insects possess legs in these 3 segments of the thorax, but the praying mantis shows the exceptional.
It shows only two pairs of legs and another pair of legs locate at the end of the thorax. But, you will find 2 pairs of wings that originate from the thorax of the praying mantis.
If you see the structure of the thorax from a praying mantis, you will find the followings –
- The sclerites or cuticles of the mantis thorax are flexible and soft,
- In some praying mantis, you may find partially sclerotized features,
- Different longitudinal muscles attach to the intersegmental folds of the mantis thorax,
The arrangement of the muscles and sclerites may result in a successive change in their shape and size. Again, these muscles help to perform the lateral movement of the head of the praying mantis.
You will see different segments (normally 6 – 9) in the abdomen of the praying mantis. Thus, you may easily differentiate the abdominal region of the praying mantis from the thorax of the praying mantis.
The first abdominal segment of the praying mantis may immediately fuse with the last thoracic segment. Now, this structure of the praying mantis is known as the propodeum.
The swollen part of the posterior abdomen of the praying mantis is known as the gaster. Normally, the posterior part of each segment of the abdomen overlaps the anterior part of the segment behind.
These two parts of the anterior and posterior segments of the mantis abdomen join with the membranous structure. Again, the more anterior segment of the mantis abdomen may contain a spiracle on each side.
Can ants or other bugs turn their head?
You may have another question – what is another insect that can turn its head except (only) a praying mantis? Answers – no other insect turns their head like the praying mantis.
If you see the external anatomical facts of the ants and other bugs, you will find similar features of an ideal insect. The neck of ants and other bugs can rarely identify.
Again, ants and other insects possess short necks which have less flexible joints. These joints of the ant’s neck may allow them to move its head a little.
But, they cannot turn their head in different directions like the praying mantis as they have no developed ball and socket joints in their neck.
More inquiries on insects that can turn their head
In this section of the article, I will try to enlist the common questions about the insect that can turn its head in a different direction. Actually, only one insect – a praying mantis that can turn its head in different directions.
But, some other insects, like ants and grasshoppers, have a little rotatory movement of their head. Let’s see the following common questions asked by the insect lover with their possible concise answer –
Which insect (only) can rotate its head a full circle (360)?
A praying mantis is only one insect that can rotate its head a full circle. That means they (praying mantis) can turn their head 180 to 360 degrees.
What is the only insect (1) that can turn its head like a human?
Again, the answer is a praying mantis that can turn its head like a human. This is due to the presence of ball and socket joints among the sclerites of their neck.
What is the only insect (1) that can turn its head 360 degrees?
Praying mantis and some other species of mantis can turn its head 360 degrees. There are more than 2100 species of mantis, and only a few species can turn its head 360 degrees.
Can bugs turn their head?
No other bugs except the praying mantis can turn their head in a different direction. Again, chameleons (one type of lizard) can get their head like a human.
What insect can survive without its head?
Only cockroaches (insects) can survive without its head. But they cannot survive for a long time without the head. The cockroaches can survive without a head for only a few weeks.
What is one (1) of the world’s most destructive kinds of insects?
There are different destructive kinds of insects, but the more destructive are – mosquitoes, desert locusts, tsetse flies, cutworms, and stink bugs.
What is one of the fastest insects?
Hawk moths and tiger beetle are the fastest insects. Here, the hawk moths have a speed of 35 miles per hour, whereas the tiger beetles have a speed of 10 miles per hour.
Conclusion
Now you can understand why and what is the only one insect that can turn its head. So, from the above discussion, the praying mantis (1) is the only insect that can turn its head 180 and 360 degrees or like a human.
Due to the presence of flexible joints in the sclerites of the neck (membranous structure), a praying mantis can turn its head in a different direction. The ball and socket joints of the neck and other muscles help the praying mantis turn their head.
