Five-year-old Isabelle found a praying mantis while with her mum on the undercliff path between Rottingdean and Saltdean, near Brighton, on a recent day out. Eve Rice and her daughter Isobel photographed the mantis before it flew off towards the cliffs. Praying mantis are distinctive predatory insects known for their large eyes, triangular heads and front legs, which they hold in a folded "praying" position. A spokesperson for the Sussex Wildlife Trust said: "Praying Mantis are very strong fliers, and given suitable conditions they could make it across the Channel from Europe. "We had two records of Praying Mantis in Sussex in 2025, both from coastal locations.