Praying Mantis a favorite Summer visitor

[gardenguysorchids]

These are one of my all time favorite insect visitors to my summer garden. I always have tons of Pray Mantis in my gardens each summer. The adults build cocoons in the fall and the young hatch the following spring. Those that survive become quite large by autumn usually 6 plus inches. They devour any insect in their path. Large ones have been seen eating humming birds and small rodents. They are canabilistic and territorial. The amount of insects consumed by them make them a very desirable garden visitor.

[pavel]

Haven't seen any of these in a long, long time. Don't recall them getting that large either but as I said -- it's been a while. Very neat insects all the same.

At the risk of appearing pedantic, the egg case isn't a cocoon but rather an ootheca.

[Cjcorner]

I wonder if I could convince a few to come vacation in my backyard?? I have a ton of buggies for them to grow on...

[Paph]

Haven't seen these guys for a long time...if ever, living in nature. They are very interesting, tnx for sharing Bill!

[pk93]

I love praying mantids oh so much! Unfortunately I have not seen any in quite some time, a couple years ago I bought a praying mantis ootheca (egg case) just to get them in my garden, unfortunately they are all gone now.. I do get quite a few assassin bugs though, which are also very good at controlling the number of bad insects in my garden, I hear that assassin bugs can pack quite a nasty bite though so i never get too close >_<

[pavel]

I hear that assassin bugs can pack quite a nasty bite though so i never get too close >_<

They can indeed administer quite the painful bite. No need to worry overly much about them, however. You're not on their menu. They aren't terribly aggressive, defensive, or territorial. The only people I have ever known to get bitten by one (myself included) are folks who have picked one up/grabbed one barehanded or had pinned one between their body and another object like a chair. In any of those events, one certainly can't blame the insect for "protesting" such treatment.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Cool Bill. I just saw a small one on my mom's hibiscus bush. We have brown ones and green ones here in Arkansas.

Cheers,
BD

[Teena]

I was just remarking yesterday that I hadn't seen a Praying Mantis since I was a kid growing up on Long Island and wondering where they had all gone. It's nice to know they are thriving somewhere. Thanks Bill. - martha

[Clivedude]

Awesome i have always loved these insects their so cool...