Key Takeaways:
- A photo of praying mantises surrounding a magnet in Darwin has gone viral on social media
- Experts believe the insects were seeking shelter and protection from predators and the elements, rather than being attracted to the magnet’s magnetic field
- Insects, including mosquitoes, can be impacted by large magnets that resemble the Earth’s magnetic field, but there is no proof that smaller magnets affect praying mantises
- The praying mantises in the photo are from the order Orthodera, a group that doesn’t yet have a common name and has many undescribed species
Introduction to the Phenomenon
The discovery of a group of praying mantises surrounding a magnet in the suburbs of Darwin has sparked a wave of interest on social media. A photo taken by Kaya Rubin shows 10 newly hatched praying mantises clustered around a broken magnetic stubby holder, prompting speculation about the reason behind their behavior. Rubin shared the photo on the Northern Territory’s field naturalists page, asking "Why are these creatures worshipping this magnet on the side of my house?" The post garnered dozens of responses, with many people expressing amazement and joking about the insects being attracted to the magnetic field.
Expert Insights
According to Nicole Gunter, a scientist and curator of entomology at the Queensland Museum, the praying mantis nymphs were likely seeking shelter and protection from predators and the elements. "Their instinct upon hatching is to disperse away from the ootheca as they are vulnerable to predation by their siblings and other predators, and they should quickly disperse to a more suitable place to seek shelter and wait for their first meal," she explained. Matthew Connors, an expert in praying mantises at James Cook University, agreed that the insects were probably seeking shelter, noting that the wall where the ootheca was located is quite exposed. "The magnet could be influencing them in some way, but as it stands, I don’t think there’s any evidence for it here, unfortunately," he said.
The Science Behind Insect Behavior
While there is some evidence to suggest that insects, including mosquitoes, can be impacted by very large magnets that resemble the Earth’s magnetic field, there is no proof that smaller magnets will have any impact on praying mantises. Connors noted that lots of different animals can sense magnetic fields, and there’s still a lot to learn about insects in general. However, in this case, the experts believe that the praying mantises were simply seeking the nearest structure for protection, which happened to be the magnet. The fact that the insects had only recently hatched from a protective egg case, known as an ootheca, which was attached to the wall nearby, supports this theory.
The Species in Question
The praying mantises in the photo are from the order Orthodera, a group that doesn’t yet have a common name and has many undescribed species. Connors identified the insects as being from this order, which is estimated to have around a dozen similar species, of which only a couple have scientific names. The Northern Territory’s praying mantises are not well-studied, and many are simply referred to by locals as garden mantises. This lack of knowledge highlights the need for further research into the biology and behavior of these fascinating insects.
Conclusion
The photo of the praying mantises surrounding a magnet may have sparked a wave of interest on social media, but it’s unlikely that the insects were actually "worshipping" the magnet. Instead, they were probably seeking shelter and protection from predators and the elements, as is typical of their behavior after hatching. While the phenomenon may not be as extraordinary as it initially seemed, it still highlights the fascinating world of insects and the need for further research into their behavior and biology. As Connors noted, "there’s still a lot to learn about the Northern Territory’s praying mantises," and this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of continued scientific exploration and discovery.