On strong muscles in their thighs
Normally tend to rely
For their spectacular gymnastics.
But praying mantises, alone,
With wings that are not yet grown,
A method different have shown,
To perform leaps fantastic:
Scientists, as these folks would,
Tried to learn how they could
Land reliably, where they should,
And understand how 't was done.
When presented with a target,
As soon as it will in its eye get,
A mantis will to it from far get,
And will hit it, every one!
Mantises make no mistakes!
Of the path they measure take,
Make their body twist and shake,
And correct their spin in flight!
And to test that this was true,
Researchers dropped a dash of glue
On the insect, which for sure
Could no longer do it right!
Thus the mantis learned a trick that's neat:
Lacking wings, to find a bite to eat!...