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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,303
Registered: ‎12-12-2011

....the bug.  Over the years I have read about them, talked about them, but have never actually seen one, until two days ago.

DH came to me and said get your phone you need to see this.  There it was on the grill cover! 
Made my day.  I know, it's only an insect, but sometimes it's the little things....6FD3F0FF-7E7F-4BF5-BD7F-5215C2AC7E7D.jpeg

Super Contributor
Posts: 255
Registered: ‎08-07-2010

I remember seeing one when I was a child.  Freaked me out badly.  One of the things nightmares are made of.....

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,351
Registered: ‎03-10-2010
They are so cool. Praying Mantuses (or Mantii?) are as well and Hummingbird Moths. I love those unusual bugs.
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,767
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

See I thought they were everywhere. I see the green one more often. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,052
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

We have kept them in the classroom as pets but understand they can be a problem demolishing peoples' gardens.  We were careful not to let them loose.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,231
Registered: ‎02-16-2019

We have quite a few of the green praying mantis but I have never seen one of these loose in the wild, very cool!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,749
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I found this one in my backyard one evening about 8-9 years ago.  (I live in AZ)

 

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Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,222
Registered: ‎06-25-2012

We lived next to a woods growing up. I use to see a lot of walking sticks. Similar story, one time I found a cocoon attached to a branch. I brought it home and set it in a cup in my bedroom.  A few mornings later I woke up to hundreds of baby praying mantuses that hatched overnight. I'm guessing they thought it was spring and hatched. There were tons all over my bedroom! Woman Surprised

"Pure Michigan"
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,892
Registered: ‎10-11-2017

I was coming out of one of our offices many years ago and on a shrub by the door was a walking stick and a praying mantis. I hope the stick didn't become lunch for the mantis.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,877
Registered: ‎03-15-2010

The only good thing about winters in Chicago is the die off of the fall praying mantises