The Better To Hear You With

Sharon Apted

Probably the only bizarre thing most people know about that truly unique-looking insect the praying mantis, is that the female sometimes eats the head of the male after he's ... umm ... "serviced" her. But now hear this: The praying mantis is the only creature with one ear (that we know of). And that ear is not where one would expect it to be. from wisegeek.com:

What is unique about how a praying mantis hears is that the insect detects sounds through one single ear that is located deep within its chest cavity, rather than on its head like most other creatures.
The praying mantis is the only creature that is known to hear with one ear. It was once commonly accepted that praying mantises were deaf, but scientists discovered in the 1980s that not only can the insects hear, but they can detect sounds well beyond what humans are capable of hearing. They use their high-frequency hearing to scope out and protect themselves against predators, such as bats.

More about the praying mantis:

• The praying mantis’s name refers to the position the insect typically is observed in when looking out for prey, where its front arms are flexed in a praying-like stance so it can catch its prey off guard with a sudden strike.


• An estimated 30% of all sexual encounters between male and female praying mantises end with the female attacking and eating the head of the male.


• Praying mantises can turn their heads 180 degrees around.