What praying mantids eat, and what to feed them in captivity

What praying mantids eat?

Praying mantids will eat a wide variety of food, with all the food having one thing in common; being live upon consumption. Praying mantids are triggered by moving insects, and will lash out at the sign of a small insect passing by. The staple diet of mantids in captivity is a mixture of house flies, moths, crickets, and other flying insects you may find in around around your home. However, some species require different diets. For example, the Orchid mantis (Hymenopus Coronatus) should only be fed on flying insects (preferrably pollen eating insects), and not ground dwelling insects such as crickets or locusts. This is also the same for species like the Idolomantis (Devils flower mantis) and the Gongylus Gongylodes (Vionlin/Indian Rose mantis).