Just the other night, later in the evening at 7 p.m. or so, the weather was balmy and warm, an unusual feeling here in northern California. Paige was outside playing when she suddenly comes running in at full speed screaming for me to come out and look at the "inthect" out on the deck. She wasn't screaming in fear, just excitement.
But three years is a long time and I've taken thousands of photographs since then so when this very opportunity arose again, my camera was with me.
As I tried getting a little closer to her, she turned her alien shaped head in our direction and stared us down.
Then our big bug eyes must have freaked out her big bug eyes because she began scampering up the side wall. We then backed off and let her be. Paige wanted to capture her and bring her in for show and tell at school but there was no way I was getting any closer to the creepy crawly.
So this Thursday I'm thankful I remembered to grab my camera for my second opportunity in viewing a Praying Mantis.
Do you have Praying Mantises living in your yard?? If so, are they green or beige?
"The 'inthect' is just like the one in our book!!"
Sure enough, Paige had spotted a Praying Mantis just like the one in our insect book right on our very own deck. Now I've only found one Praying Mantis, ever here on the farm, three years ago. It was a beige colored one, just like this one and I found it here........
on my Hydrangea plant. Perfectly camouflaged with the tan colored stems. At that time, I was not into taking the many photos I take today so it never even crossed my mind to take its photo.
Or maybe I just wanted to get as far away from this creepy three inch insect as I could. Bugs seem to be attracted to my hair for reasons unknown to me and I certainly didn't want this creature anywhere near my body.
But three years is a long time and I've taken thousands of photographs since then so when this very opportunity arose again, my camera was with me.
As I tried getting a little closer to her, she turned her alien shaped head in our direction and stared us down.
Then our big bug eyes must have freaked out her big bug eyes because she began scampering up the side wall. We then backed off and let her be. Paige wanted to capture her and bring her in for show and tell at school but there was no way I was getting any closer to the creepy crawly.
So this Thursday I'm thankful I remembered to grab my camera for my second opportunity in viewing a Praying Mantis.
Do you have Praying Mantises living in your yard?? If so, are they green or beige?
Link up with anything you’re thankful for! And if you’re not a blogger, just let us know in the comment section what you happen to be thankful for on this day.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!
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we get both green and brown here. the browns are supposedly more aggressive. mantises are the only insects that can rotate their heads like that. and they ARE aliens. i'm convinced. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen them here in Wisconsin...must be too cold here.
ReplyDeleteI've seen an occasional green one around here. They are awfully cool!
ReplyDeleteI love this pictures you were able to take of him.
ReplyDeleteNice shots! I've never seen a praying mantis except in photos. Maybe they don't live here in Iowa. Your hydrangea is lovely, too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I have never seen a whitish colored one before. We see them from time to time but always green. So neat. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMarvellous photo Nancy but I can't say I am sorry that we don't have them here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI love the praying mantis, but admit that they are a little creepy for me to get too close too--But ours are green and seeing them here in northern Virginia isn't uncommon at all.
ReplyDeleteI love the Praying Mantis most of the ones around here are a very bright green. I like your mantis.
ReplyDeleteWe had a green one (about 4 or so inches long!) in our backyard a few years ago. It was very cool & the kids loved it & wanted to keep it too. I convinced them it would be happier eating bugs outside. And, like you, I didn't want it jumping in my hair! (My brother once put a big black beetle on my head and it got caught in all my curls. We also had a stick bug that was brown. Have you ever had those?
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