Just ran into an old friend yesterday afternoon. I thought he (more likely "she") had been lost in a storm or moved into the woods. Nope! Here's a little retrospective of my praying mantis friend.
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| May 2011 - 1/2 inch long |
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| Early June 2011 - in my oregano |
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| Late June 2011 - up to 1 1/2" |
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| YESTERDAY! On a sunflower leaf - about 6" long. |
Sure wish I could bring him in for the winter. Wonder if they live that long? Anyway, I have nothing to feed it and I'm not about to start a grasshopper colony inside just for food! I'm going to keep on the look-out for another pod of eggs, though.
I owe this guy big. Last year, at this time, the grasshoppers had stripped my garden. This year, not nearly as much. I wish I'd had my camera when I watched this guy grab a grasshopper in mid-jump, then eat it! Every garden should have a resident like this.
3 comments:
VERY cool! We love cool discoveries like that
My kids and I have been hunting for a praying mantis all summer.... I might have to settle for showing them these pics!
@OneMommy
If they don't find one, keep them looking all fall and in the spring for the egg cases. Just google "praying mantis egg case" to see what they look like. I tend to fine them on vine-like plants like grapes ans morning glories in the spring. Just read my first post about what happened when I brought my find inside (lick on "hatching in my kitchen" under the first pic!) Might want to keep them out all winter, then confine them in an aquarium or something until letting them go!
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