Praying Mantis
Mantises are the only insects
that can turn their heads to look directly behind them.
Often mistakenly spelled preying mantis (an eggcorn,
since they are notoriously predatory), they are in fact
named for the typical "prayer-like" stance. The word
mantis derives from the Greek word mantis for prophet or
fortune teller.
Many gardeners consider mantises to be desirable insects, as they prey upon many harmful insect species. Organic gardeners who avoid pesticides may encourage mantises as a form of biological pest control. Tens of thousands of mantis egg cases are sold each year in some garden stores for this purpose.