Praying Mantis
By Sherry
@norcal (4890)
Franklinton, North Carolina
August 24, 2016 7:17pm CST
Lately I have been seeing a lot of these praying mantis bugs in my yard. They are such interesting looking bugs. I kind of look forward to seeing them, they are kind of like pets to me.
When I come out to water they swivel their head all the way around to look at me. Sometimes they do fly at me though, which kind of freaks me out. Most of them are a yellow-green color, but some of them are brown. I wonder if they get browner when they get older.
I just learned that most of the praying mantis species we see in the US are not native species, but have been introduced from other parts of the world.
A lot of people consider them good for pest control in the garden, but they are indiscriminate in their eating habits. They will munch on bees and ladybugs as soon as they will mites and caterpillars.
13 people like this
11 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
25 Aug 16
they'll e'en go 'fter hummers :( i've lots 'f prayin' mantis 'round here, though not's many's years past. wee ones, where there's always been huge'uns. they'll also run 'p yer arm 'n those lil spikes can leave ya lookin' like y'ave been'n a cat fight, lol.
dang, i so need me a macro lens so's i can get great shots 'f tiny critters!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
26 Aug 16
@norcal i 'oopsed' 'n watered one last year. she 'twas purty ticked 'n ripped 'p my arm purty bad. most oft they pay ya not much mind.
1 person likes this
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
25 Aug 16
Really? I have never been hurt by one, but then I don't pick them up with my hands or let them crawl on me, like the guy in the photo. I got this photo from pixabay. I did have some pretty good pictures of praying mantis from last year, but I could not find them.
1 person likes this
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
26 Aug 16
@crazyhorseladycx well, I will be more careful around them from now on
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111191)
• El Paso, Texas
25 Aug 16
I saw one last year but I haven't seen one this year.
You made a good point, they are indiscriminate about what they eat and sometimes that makes them more of a nuisance than helpful. I don't like that they eat bees, garden spiders, ladybugs or caterpillars, we need most of those here although I can't tell if the caterpillars are moth or butterfly.
1 person likes this
@mawdest (1587)
• Canada
25 Aug 16
Surprisingly, we actually get these in Canada too, atleast in my part of Canada. I only know this because, in grade 7, as a class.. We went outside in the school yard and had to find a bunch of bugs or whatever to put in to a glass tank to make an ecosystem type deal for Science class I believe. So we found some things.. I don't remember everything about it.. But I do know we found a green praying mantis, and for sure a cricket.. Because I remember in class I freaked out one day (out loud) because the praying mantis went in to hunt-mode.. killed/ate the cricket.. And I swear it was one of the coolest things ever, hah.
1 person likes this
yeah, right.
@carexing25 (1818)
• Philippines
25 Aug 16
reminds me of my son.. he's scared of praying mantis.. he keeps on screaming and running away every time he sees one..
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Aug 16
Did you know a praying mantis can take down a hummingbird? Hard to believe but I read that.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Aug 16
I don't think I've ever seen one, honestly.
1 person likes this
