Mantis

From Nookipedia, the Animal Crossing wiki

Artwork of mantis
Real-world info
Name: Tenodera aridifolia
Family: Mantidae - Mantids
Main appearances

Other appearances
Names in other languages
 カマキリ
 螳螂
 Mante religieuse
 Mantis religiosa
 Mantide
 Богомол
 사마귀
 螳螂
 Mante religieuse
 Mantis religiosa
 Gottesanbeterin
 Bidsprinkhaan

The mantis[nb 1] is a bug in the Animal Crossing series that has appeared in every game to date. Starting in Animal Crossing: City Folk, when the mantis is approached, it will raise its head in defense. If disturbed long enough, it flies away into the air with a buzzing noise.

In the games that the mantis appears in, it is an uncommon bug that the player can encounter, and can be found on flowers. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it can be caught from spring to fall.

Catch details[edit]

In Animal Crossing[edit]

#19
Mantis
"I caught a praying mantis! Some people keep these as pets, you know?"

Time of year[nb 2] Aug – Oct
Time of day 8 AM – 5 PM
Location On flowers
Weather Any except rain
Selling price  430 Bells
Furniture size 1.0 x 1.0


In Wild World[edit]

#15

Mantis
"I caught a mantis! The hunter is the hunted!"

Description They will attack larger insects. Their front legs fold as if they are praying.
Time of year Aug – Nov
Time of day 8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times 8 AM – 4 PM (Sep – Nov)
Location On flowers
Bug size 82 mm
Selling price  430 Bells
Furniture size 1.0 x 1.0


In City Folk[edit]

#16

Mantis
"I caught a mantis! He didn't have a prayer!"

Description Exclusively predatory, these will attack insects larger than themselves.
Time of year Apr – Nov
Time of day 8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times Sep – Nov:
8 AM – 4 PM
Location On flowers
Bug size 82 mm
Rarity Very uncommon
Selling price  430 Bells
Furniture size 1.0 x 1.0


In New Leaf[edit]

#17

Mantis
"I caught a mantis! Time to pay your respects!"

Time of year Apr – Nov
All year (Tortimer Island)
Time of day 8 AM – 5 PM
Peak times Sep – Nov:
8 AM – 4 PM
Location On flowers (can be found on Tortimer Island)
Size 82 mm
Rarity Very uncommon
Selling price  430 Bells
Furniture size 1.0 x 1.0


In New Horizons[edit]

#22

Mantis
"I caught a mantis! Man, 'tis so cool!"

Time of year North: Mar – Nov
South: Sep – May
Time of day 8 AM – 5 PM
Location On flowers
Weather Any except rain
Spawn requirement Appears from the start of the game
Selling prices  Nook's Cranny 430 Bells
 Flick 645 Bells
Furniture size 1.0 x 1.0


Donating to the museum[edit]

As with all fish and bugs in the Animal Crossing series, the mantis can be donated to the museum. Upon donation, Blathers will say the following in their respective games:

In Animal Crossing[edit]

"Ah yes, the infamous mantis...Tell me, does it seem to you that it's almost TOO aware of us? Like it's studying us...It's rather as if it were questioning our reason for existence, eh wot? It's eyes...They're far too judgmental. Additionally, the manner in which it uses its scythe-like forelegs to kill and feed...So very vivid! So graphic! Blech! Grisly little beast!"

In Wild World[edit]

"I imagine you'll think I'm having a bit of fun, but I assure you, I am serious... After mating, the female mantis will kill the male and devour him on the spot! Blech! The very thought gives me the gags! I must say, I consider myself most fortunate not to have been born a mantis. Hoo, I might have had to squash myself..."

In City Folk[edit]

"Tell me, <Player>, have you ever seen the egg case of a mantis? It's not much to look at really. Just a little sack about the size of your fist. It's not even all that vile... But come spring, it bursts asunder and hundreds of baby mantises spring forth! I daresay my issues with bugs began when one such egg case ruptured within my desk. The horror..."

The mantis can be found towards the back of the museum, perched atop a rose on the upper terrace.

In New Leaf[edit]

The mantis resting on some flowers in the museum in New Leaf

Upon being donated, the mantis can be found in the room of the bug exhibit with the light in, resting on some flowers near the light. The exhibit has this to say about the mantis:

"Mantises are known for the praying pose they sit in while ambushing unsuspecting prey. They'll snatch whatever is moving nearby and can even capture creatures larger than themselves. When threatened, mantises will spread their thin green wings to appear more intimidating."

In New Horizons[edit]

"Hoo! Don't let the mantis's angelic pose fool you... for it is truly monstrous. The mantis is known for its large size and tremendous strength...and for sickle-like arms that pack a punch. And though they tend to eat bugs and spiders...mantises have been known to dine on small animals too! And those eerie eyes! Oh my! Did you know it has five of them! Two big ones and three small!"

Once donated to the museum, the mantis can be found on the tropical flower bed near the butterfly exhibit with the stinkbug and the tiger beetle.

Gallery[edit]

Real-world information[edit]

A real-life mantis

It is unclear as to what type of mantis appears in Animal Crossing, as there are roughly 2000 species world-wide. However, it seems likely that it is Tenodera aridifolia, the Japanese giant mantis, a large species of mantis that can be found across East to Southeast Asia.

Mantids can be traced back to over 35 million years ago, and are related to cockroaches. They can be found across temperate and tropic areas all across the world, and can fly. They are strictly carnivorous, and rarely think twice about attacking larger animals.

Names in other languages[edit]

Japanese カマキリ
Kamakiri
Mantis

Korean 사마귀
Samagwi
Mantis

Simplified Chinese 螳螂
Tángláng
Mantis

Russian Богомол
Bogomol
Mantis

Dutch Bidsprinkhaan Mantis

German Gottesanbeterin Mantis, lit. Female God Worshiper

European Spanish Mantis religiosa Religious mantis (due to its pose, resembling praying)

European French Mante religieuse Religious mantis (due to its pose, resembling praying)

Italian Mantide Mantis

Notes[edit]

  1. Japanese: カマキリ Hepburn: Kamakiri
  2. All bugs and fish in the first-generation games can appear at a lower spawn rate up to five days before the start of their first month of availability.