Subject: When I first saw this one it was a light fleshy color. It did turn a bit darker bet never a full green or brown.
From: Kim L
Date: Tue, August 10, 2010 2:55 pm
I'd never seen a light tan before. Watched it for over an hour in hopes
the color would change but it really didn't - even when as you can see
it was in the plants.
Thank you for your website!
Thanks for the comment. I actually have yet to see a mantis change colors
in front of my eyes and I have worked with many mantids. I am hoping to
witness that one day! -Mantis Man
Subject: Re: Hello, Please help ID
Date: Sun, August 15, 2010 12:25 am
To: "Ed"
Hello Ed,
I was only able to open one attachment you sent and it seems the photo is
not of a praying mantis at all. It looks like a Phasmatodea (sometimes
called Phasmida) or known as giant walking stick insect.
Mantis Man
original message: Hello please see attached photo. Is this a praying Mantis with out wings?
Wed, September 1 2010
This morning as I was leaving for work, I saw a Praying Mantis on the hood of my car.
I thought this was so special because this afternoon I have a job interview for a position that
I would love to have. I spoke to the mantis and asked him if he were praying for me, and I kid you not, it
turned it's little head and looked right at me. I couldn't believe it.
When I dropped my husband off at his work site, he was still on my car,
but by the time I reached my job, he had left.
I wondered what meaning this might have, so I Goggled praying mantis and
found your website. Thank you for reminding me that worrying is nothing
but a waste of time and positive energy. Maybe that's why this little guy
came to visit me this morning. I look at this as a good sign, no matter
the outcome of my interview. Many Blessing, -Teresa
Wow! What an awesome story Teresa! It proves my theory that the praying
mantis can actually connect with us somehow.
I kid you not, when I kept a praying mantis as a pet, it always turned its
head to look at me and listen to me and that's what inspired me to start
this website.
I know your interview will go well and thanks for sharing your "good sign." Mantis Man
Thanks for responding. I took a few pictures of the Mantis, and the best
one I will print and frame, to keep as a constant reminder that prayer and
worrying do not mix. Take care. T
Wed, Sept 1 2010
I have a praying mantis on my hummingbird feeder. I guess it's a good place to eat small insects.
He or she has been there for several weeks.
Do they drink the sugar water or is he or she only interested in the bugs.
She aggravates the birds and sometimes refuses to let them land to feed. -Marilyn
Hey Marilyn, Mantids can drink water with a little sugar. I never put any sugar on
their water when I was raising them. They naturally receive enough fluid
through the insects they eat.
Wow, the mantis stayed for weeks? That's patience! Mantis Man
He's still there. He wouldn't get off the feeder this time when I needed
to refill it so I just took the cover off and he or she stayed on it the
entire time. I put the cover back on and hung it back up again and he
stayed on. He's brown. Looks fat and happy. - Marilyn
Friday Sept 9, 2010
How long does the mating process last? I have a pair in my yard, have been mating for nearly 24 hours since I discovered them yesterday. Thanks, Judy
Hello Judy,
I had to consult my brother on this question. He has had many hours of
experience in mantis mating. I consider him a mantis mating expert, even
though he might deny it! Here is what he says:
"Yeah, they mate for hours. I always leave, then hours later I come back
and they're either separated or the male is decapitated (or just being
devoured). I never actually see the initial kill. But I've never seen them
go for 24 hours ...that's not surprising though.
It's also possible that it was a different male the next day, but I don't
know the chances of that." - Mantis Man's brother
Hi-
Thanks for the info
I'm pretty sure it was the same male. Does she lay the lay the egg case
soon after the mating? I saw her early this afternoon (alone), then this evening
saw a dead female. The abdomen looked odd, so I wondered if she laid the
eggs and then died? I could not find the male.
Here is the pic of the dead female, about six feet away from where I last
saw the pregnant female. -Judy
Sorry for the late reply, Judy and thanks for the picture. I would like
to include it on our comments page if that is okay. Yes, a female mantis
can lay the eggs soon after mating. Yes, unfortunately, this late in the
season the female could have laid her egg sac and and called it quits as
she passed the torch to a new generation. I highly suspect this was the
same heroic and sacrificial female who mated, laid eggs, and died (unless
there was another female mantis nearby, but often do you see more than one
mantis in the same backyard?) Praying mantises are not as numerous as
other insects. It would would be a idea to look for the egg sac. - Mantis
Man
Saturday, Sept 10 2010
Hello,
> My name is Yvette. I live in Williamston, S.C and I had a praying mantis
> in my house. It landed on my son Cory and it scared him because he had no
> idea what it was. My son said it bite him. Is that possible or was the
> praying mantis just scared of my son? Anyway I put the praying mantis
> outside and it flu a way. Than I was outside cooking on the grill and
> there was another one.. This one was smaller and it was just hanging out
> on the grill so i moved it on my garbage can and it is still there.. I
> found ur site very helpful and learned lot about them...They are the most
> interesting bug.. Thank you for site I learned a lot about them.. I have
> one more question to ask you. Do they come out when it isn't so hot
> outside because I have been here for 5 years and never saw them here? It
> has cooled down here a or so I just wanted to know if they move around
> when it isn't that hot outside? Thank you!
Hi Yvette! I hope your son is okay. It would be quite a scare to have a strange insect suddenly land on you.
Praying mantises don't really bite humans. Their first instinct would be to strike with their forelegs if
startled. That is probably what happened, but I can only guess. It is not very common to see more than one mantis in one day.
But they are very prevalent in South Carolina. Yes, like, most insects,they prefer warm
weather. So, you won't see mantises much longer as the cold weather is just around the corner.
Many female mantises have already laid their eggs and you'll see a new generation next late spring and early summer. -
Mantis Man
Tuesday, Sept 13 2010
Thanks for your informative web site. I have frequently seen brown and beige mantises around our swimming pool,
but for over 24 hours there have been two green ones on our dark turquoise front iron gates, one on each gate.
I was going to move one to some vines in the yard, as it was in the afternoon sun, when I saw the second one.
Although they both looked at me as I looked at them, they do not appear to be aware of each other. They are about three feet
apart and at the same height from the ground, half way up the gates. I decided that if they were too hot they would move on
their own. ( I did not want to interrupt anything that might be developing ) Is it common for them to stay in one spot, especially in
the heat and not on a plant, for so long? Thanks again. Dana
It is quite surprising to see praying mantises hang around a swimming pool. Sometimes I wonder if we are seeing the evolution
of the mantis before our very eyes. Coyotes, for instance, rarely were seen near human territory until recently.
Now they have been a threat to domestic pets. Are praying mantises getting so used to humans that they are hanging around
our pools, gates, and sunbathing!!!? LOL - Mantis Man
Wed, Sept 15 2010
