This beautiful Praying Mantis is a welcome visitor to my garden. Beautiful Mantis ( photo / image / picture from kathyd's Garden ) Are You Looking At Me? ( photo / image / picture from kathyd's Garden )
Who is better for a garden, an argiope spider (orb weaver,gardener's friend) with its zig-zag web, or a lovely praying mantis with its appetite for pests? That is an amazing photo of the mantis on your rose!
Philip, sometimes I find mantis with browner wings, you are right...this one is green...very green! Thank you also for your comment Martingardener.
I've just seen the pictures in your blog and now I get to see more of this wonderful insect. Many thanks for taking the time to post them here for us Kathy.
How I wish praying mantis would come to my garden .... Great Shots Kathyd. Since I started my garden till now I still have not seen any mantis taking up residence. I understand they are good insects to have around the garden and is there a way of attracting them?
Cherylad, Yes, he is hugging the rose...I like the way his eyes look peering over the top petal. My husband and I were amazed at the way his head swiveled toward the camera each time I moved to take a new shot. Eileen, he was such a well-bahaved model. KK, I help the population of mantis in my yard along by walking through fields and meadows in the winter and keeping alert for pods of the mantis. I usually find one and keep it out in my cold garage. When it gets closer to spring I put it outside in an area where squirrels cannot reach it and chew it apart. One year I brought one inside the house and forgot about it and had baby mantis all over my kitchen. Luckily, I collected them and took them outdoors.
That is a much better picture than the one I posted, not as scary looking either. I don't know where he came from but he was the same color as the tree. dooley
