The praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is one of our most impressive and interesting insects due to its peculiar shape and body posture, its head that can move in all directions to face its observer, and its predatory lifestyle. Its mating behavior, which occasionally includes but is often exaggerated by sexual cannibalism, is also noteworthy. However, until now, there has been a lack of a monographic presentation that thoroughly covers the entire lifestyle of this fascinating insect in both words and images. This gap is to be filled by the current NBB volume. The authors share their knowledge gained from years of personal observation of Mantis religiosa in its natural habitat, taking into account the experiences of other experts and the most important literature. The reader will learn everything essential about it.