A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall The Critter Corner rare sight

We rarely get to see praying mantises around here, so I was thrilled to see this one while deadheading the butterfly bush next to this window.



He wasn't too sure about me though and started to walk away...


Decided to change direction and I left him alone after taking this picture...

I just love praying manthis! great pics.

oh wow good picture!!

Cool, i've never seen one in real life either.

Magnificent creatures aren't they? I picked one up when I was about ten and screamed in agony. The thing split the web of skin between my thumb and index finger next to the palm with its POWERFUL, SERRATED front legs. I still have the scar to this day.

Many scientists believe that Praying Mantises did not originate on our world, but came to it, thousands of years ago, in some of the first UFO's. They believe that the UFO crash in Roswell, NM, was a rescue attempt from the Mantises homeworld that went disastrously wrong. ALL of the scientists who believe this are now in a mental institution somewhere......

I should have said it's a current rare sight...
when I was growing up, on the other side of the Hudson River, we would see them much more often. It seems to me that they were on the endangered species list for many years - not sure of that, but that was what I was told way back when...


Never decided to pick one up though - OUCHIE Thorny!!!

I don't know, I have tons of them in all sizes hiding in my flower beds,saw three on one 4 oclock just yesterday

We have a lot here in Tennessee, too, but it's been a year or two since I've had one in my yard.