Look closely above and you can see something looking at you. Yes, a praying mantis. This was a rare find in my back yard yesterday! It was rather large as you can see from the photo right and I spotted it while I was jogging. It seemed to look right at me while I passed by. Needless to say I was careful while photographing it as it was watching me carefully.
Below is an excerpt from the writings of Science Man Dan regarding the Praying Mantis :
“What a bizarre and malicious creature, the Mantis. She is a dangerous predator, the larger species being able to capture and devour even some small rodents! These creatures can range from light green to dark brown in color and are distinctively known for their serrated front legs which they hold in an upright “praying” fashion. Mantises are also cannibalistic during mating and often times during this intercourse a female mantis will begin to devour the male. Strange as this is, the male mantis maintains or increases mating even when his head is gone! Many scientists have debated why this is, but no one as of yet knows exactly why. Mantises lay from tens to hundreds of eggs in a protective pod that is very strong and durable. These egg pods are known as oothecae and are laid almost anywhere. After laying her eggs the mother leaves them indefinitely.”
Fabre in his chapter on mantises states,
The mantis, I fear, has no heart. She eats her husband and deserts her children.
Mantis Notebooking Page:
