Mantis Youth

"Member of a proud tribe, fiercely protective of its territory. Launches stinging attacks with its needle sharp abdomen. As it grows, it loses the ability to fly. Passage into adulthood is often celebrated, but as time goes by we realise what we have lost."

Mantis Youths are enemies in Hollow Knight. They are young children of the Mantis Tribe, losing their ability to fly when becoming adults.

Behaviour and Tactics
It waits, clinging to a wall or ceiling to ambush the Knight. Once engaged, it hovers around just out of range of Nail attacks before winding up and lunging towards the Knight. Their range is short and easy to dodge, but they quickly hover out of range to charge up another attack.

Once the Mantis Lords are defeated, all Mantises become non-hostile towards the Knight, however, they will still retaliate if attacked.

Location
They can only be found within and at the entrance of the Mantis Village.

Trivia

 * The Mantis Youth is one of the few enemies that respawn upon leaving and re-entering the room.
 * The non-hostile Mantis Youths will not retaliate if damaged by Defender's Crest and Spore Shroom but will turn hostile if damaged by any summoned familiar like Grimmchild and Glowing Womb.
 * The Mantis Youths (as well as the Mantis Warriors) have different Dream Nail dialogue after the Mantis Lords have been defeated.

References

Joven_mantis Богомолий отрок Modliszkowe Młode Jeune Mante