Insect of the Year 2012 and the mantis collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum
MúzeumCafé 32.
Goblins and pixies play a part in folk tales, myths and stories. Yet a very real being exists in Hungary, as elsewhere, known as the praying mantis. In certain traditions it is regarded as an evil and treacherous creature, similarly to its namesakes, while sometimes it is respected as having mystical wisdom. Partly due to its strange, fairy-tale-like shape, interesting behaviour and the tales told about it, the Hungarian Entomological Society selected the praying mantis as Insect of the Year 2012. The Insect of the Year must meet several criteria. For example, it must be clearly visible to the naked eye, be of spectacular appearance and well-known to both specialists and lay people. Its way of life should be known and have cultural associations, and it should possibly be included in the school syllabus. The praying mantis entirely satisfies all these criteria. This insect order includes more than 2300 species and the majority inhabit tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although their basic body corresponds to that of other insects, they have gone through various changes as a result of their predatory way of life. Their large, triangular head, enormous eyes, prolonged prothorax and their powerful grasping, spiked forelegs are so characteristic that they can be easily recognized and distinguished from other insects. Mantises can be found in the Collection of Smaller Insects in the Hungarian Natural History Museum’s Department of Zoology. The section for mantises consists of more than a thousand mounted items. The museum’s praying mantises collected the farthest from Hungary come from Australia and New Zealand.