What Are Mantis Aliens? A Detailed Exploration

Learn about these mysterious creatures and where they've been spotted

Co-authored by Sydney Bermudez and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

What are Mantis Aliens?

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Appearance

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Characteristics

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Mantis Aliens’ Intentions on Earth

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Encounters

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Origins & Myths

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Are they real?

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Video

Have you ever looked at a praying mantis and thought it seemed oddly intelligent? Some people believe the mantises we know were actually sent here by a much larger, cosmic version—the Mantis Alien. Mantis Aliens are tall insect-like extraterrestrials, and though we have no official evidence that they exist, people all over the world have reported seeing them. We’re digging deep into Mantis Aliens, including what they look like, important characteristics, and their encounters with people.

What are Praying Mantis Aliens?

Mantis Aliens (sometimes called Praying Mantis Aliens) are tall, insect-like extraterrestrials with triangular heads and insect-like eyes. Mantis Aliens are often described as being peaceful and kind, though some people have reported negative interactions. People all over the globe have reported seeing Mantis Aliens.

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What are Mantis Aliens?

Mantis Aliens are tall, insect-like extraterrestrials. They’ve reportedly been seen around the world. They’re tall and slender, with jointed limbs, triangle-shaped heads, and large, insect-like eyes. Some people report feeling calm in their presence, and many people believe that they hold positions of power over other types of aliens, including the Grey Aliens that dominate popular culture.^{[1]
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- Some witnesses report that the mantis aliens use interdimensional travel to visit our world, although they are sometimes associated with spacecraft.
- Mantis Aliens have also appeared in pop culture. A Mantis Alien toy was released in 1993 for an unrealized cartoon spinoff from the Aliens franchise.^{[2]
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  Research source} Mantids (or Mantis Aliens) also appear on the popular SyFy channel show Resident Alien.^{[3]
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What do Mantis Aliens look like?

Mantis Aliens are tall and thin with a triangle-shaped head. They stand upright, usually around 8–9 ft (2.4–2.7 m) tall, and they may have a vaguely humanoid form, although they still retain insect-like characteristics. Their limbs often have extra joints, similar to a praying mantis. Their hands and feet may be three-pronged. They have triangle-shaped heads and slanted eyes like an insect.^{[4]
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- The bodies of the Mantis Aliens are sometimes green, but they’re more often brown or black. They can also be white, eggshell, silver, or gold.^{[5]
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  Research source} Some people describe them as having an oily sheen over their bodies.^{[6]
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- Some people describe the Mantis Aliens as having a hard, shell-like exoskeleton, while others say they’re more fleshy, especially at the joints.
- The Mantis Aliens are sometimes described as wearing flowing robes. The robes are sometimes different colors, which could denote different ranks in the Mantis Alien hierarchy.
- Mantis Aliens may be able to cloak themselves to appear human-like or invisible.

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Characteristics of Mantis Aliens

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Mantis Aliens may hold an overseer role among extraterrestrials. Mantis Aliens seem to demonstrate a position of authority over other types of aliens, including the Grey Aliens that people commonly picture when they think of extraterrestrials.^{[7]
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Research source} They may also hold power over Reptilians, lizard-like alien creatures that are said to live among humans, although they may share power with the Reptilians.^{[8]
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- Some people believe that Mantis Aliens hold leadership roles in an intergalactic system designed to maintain balance in the universe.
- One theory states that Grey Aliens adopted a hive mind so they could work more efficiently, and the Mantis Aliens oversee them much like a supervisor would.
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They primarily communicate with humans through telepathy. Most witnesses state that the Mantis Aliens communicate with them by transmitting thoughts. However, some people report that the Mantis Aliens have spoken to them using traditional language. Many people say that the Mantis Aliens transmitted a calming sense of peace.^{[9]
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- When the Mantis Aliens communicate with each other, they typically use a language made up of clicks, whistles, and trills.
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Mantis Aliens may manipulate energy to travel. Some people report seeing the Mantis Aliens appear in bubble-like spheres, which they may use to travel through space and time. Other people believe the Mantis Aliens simply project their consciousness to Earth, but they’re not physically present.^{[10]
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- Mantis Aliens may also be able to manipulate sound, energy, and color to heal illness and injuries.

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Mantis Aliens’ Intentions on Earth

Some people believe Mantis Aliens are trying to prevent Earth’s destruction. A number of witnesses have claimed that the Mantis Aliens showed them holographic images of Earth being destroyed. That may indicate that Mantis Aliens are trying to intervene to stop humanity from destroying our planet.^{[11]
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- Other witnesses say that Mantis Aliens showed them visions of how the universe is interconnected, which helps support the idea that they’re invested in preserving the Earth.^{[12]
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- Other people believe Mantis Aliens are involved in a project to study humanity, or even to create Mantis-human hybrids known as Mantis Starseeds.^{[13]
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  Research source} This may be part of a plot to take over the Earth.

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Reports of Mantis Alien Encounters

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Mantis Aliens sometimes visit people in their homes. Often, people awake to find the Mantis Aliens standing over their beds. In these cases, the Mantis Aliens may interact with the witnesses, either communicating with them or drawing information (like memories and other experiences) from them telepathically.
- In this video, artist Stuart Davis recounts an encounter with an 8 ft (2.4 m) mantis creature. In the video, other people share similar stories of meeting Mantis Aliens, including one person who reports that they took samples from his body.
- Mantis Aliens have been reportedly seen around the world, including in the US, UK, Brazil, and Canada.^{[14]
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Some people report catching a glimpse of a Mantis Alien while outdoors. These may be unintentional encounters—one theory states that this happens when the Mantis Aliens accidentally drop their ability to cloak their appearance. In these encounters, the Mantis Aliens often do not interact with the witnesses, or may only interact briefly before disappearing.
- Multiple witnesses claim to have seen a mantis-like creature while fishing in a New Jersey River.^{[15]
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- One witness came forward with a story of a chance encounter on the road. While Mantis Aliens are usually depicted as peaceful, this man claims to have picked up on intense feelings of anger and hatred.^{[16]
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Some people say they’ve seen Mantis Aliens during abductions. Alien abductions are most commonly associated with Grey Aliens. However, some people report seeing Mantis Aliens—often in conjunction with the Grey Aliens. In these cases, the Mantis Aliens appear to hold a position of power among the Grey Aliens.
- During these abductions, witnesses sometimes report being subjected to experiments or medical procedures. Others say they were shown visions designed to protect the Earth or uplift humanity.
- David Huggins is an artist who reports that he has been abducted by aliens many times throughout his life, beginning when he was 8—including by mantis-like alien creatures.^{[17]
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People often report seeing Mantis Aliens after taking hallucinogens. The phenomenon of encountering Mantis Aliens is somewhat common in people who have taken psychedelic drugs like LSD or mushrooms—and is especially common after taking DMT (N,N-dimethyltryrptamine). (DMT is sometimes taken on its own, but it’s also a component in the hallucinogenic substance ayahuasca, often used by shamans in the Amazon for its transcendent properties.)^{[18]
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- Even people who seemingly have no prior knowledge of these shared hallucinations have reported having visions of Mantis Aliens—raising questions as to whether Mantis Aliens may be more likely or more easily able to communicate with people in altered states of consciousness.
- Do not take illicit drugs to try to contact aliens. Not only is it illegal, but there are no legal production standards, so the purity of these substances isn’t regulated in any way.

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Mantis Aliens in Mythology

Mantis-like creatures appear in numerous cultures. They’re often associated with ancient myths, including creation stories. Some of the most prevalent include:^{[19]
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- Africa: Some African cultures revere a mantis god named |Kaggen as the creator of the universe.^{[20]
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- Egypt: In the Egyptian Book of the Dead, souls are guided to the underworld by a mantis-headed deity named Abyt.^{[21]
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- Iran: In 2017, an ancient petroglyph was uncovered in Iran that seems to show a mantis-like creature. This picture of a “squatting mantis man” may be an indication that mantis-like creatures were an important part of the prehistoric mythology of the area.^{[22]
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Are mantis aliens real?

There’s no concrete scientific evidence that Mantis Aliens are real. Any accounts of the Mantis Aliens are based on first-hand eyewitness accounts. While some of these stories are truly compelling, they don’t qualify as scientific evidence. More proof is needed to definitively establish the existence of Mantis Aliens.
- Some people argue that these encounters may be the result of sleep paralysis, hallucinations, or even suggestions implanted during hypnosis.^{[23]
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