When adult female mantids (Stagmatoptera biocellata) are faced with a bird, a "frightening response" is displayed called a deimatic reaction (DR). Habituation of this mantid's response due to repeated presentation of 3 different species of birds was studied. The response decrement appeared with all 3 stimuli: a decrease in the number of DRs, an increase in the percentage of incomplete responses, and a shortening in the response duration. Significant retention of the effects of habituation was found after 6 days. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)