GJ Mantis

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Probably the last one of these (and the largest) we'll see this season. We found another one just like this one in the back yard exactly one year ago. Check it out here:

 http://skunktracks.blogspot.com/2012/10/big-praying-mantis.html

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BIG Praying Mantis

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We found this praying mantis in the back yard on Oct. 1st. I'm pretty sure it's the largest praying mantis I've ever seen in our yard.We took a few pics and then let it go.

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Return of Honey

Honey the praying mantis returned for the second time in two months last week. We've let her go twice in the neighbor's flowers. The first time she appeared on the front porch, and then last week she showed up on the back porch nearly frozen to death. She'll stay inside now since she would surely freeze outside. She'll probably live out her days in a nice critter cage with plenty of crickets. Here are some pictures of Honey when we let her go and some new ones of her living inside with us. 

Honey in the neighbor's flowers.

Waiting for a meal.

Tastes like chicken!

Now Honey is super fat. We're hoping she might lay eggs.

"Honey" the Bee-eating Praying Mantis

We found "Honey" tonight while we were taking the dogs (Smudgie and Scarlet) for a walk.  She is living in a large "critter cage" with plants and a hermit-crab-style-sponge for water. In the first hour that we had her she captured and devoured two honey bees caught in the front yard. I learned tonight that their eyes darken in low light and then turn green again in bright sunlight.

Honey on Rachael's hand.

Honey kept jumping onto the camera as we were photographing.

Honey walking on my hand.

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