Praying mantis sitting on a rose, waiting for dinner. Photo by Jo Ann Sendldorfer, Fremont, CA

You want camouflage? Check out this praying mantis sitting on a rose … just waiting for a bee or some other insect to stop by for lunch. HIS lunch.

If these guys were a foot long or bigger, we humans wouldn’t be able to leave our houses safely unless we were wearing suits of armor. Fearsome! /Gary

Female (large) and male (small) praying mantises breeding. Photo by Travis McATee, Concord, CA

Gary:
I watch for and photograph Praying Mantis specimens each year.  I hope you can use this one.  They have been attached (breeding) for over 24 hours.  I was reminded of the Viagra commercial which warns of the “four hour ” happenstance so, naturally, I thought to check with you to see if I should intervene out of concern for the poor fellow.  These two prevailed through the rain on Thursday, so cold water does no good. I will give you the final tally.  I assume the male is toast following culmination. Best Regards from a daily reader.
Travis McATee, Concord, California

Travis:
I read one report that male praying mantises had been observed copulating with females for as long as 24 hours. Let me know if these two characters in the above photo set a new world record. Maybe he’s just scared to get off, for obvious reasons (females supposedly kill and eat the males after breeding). Maybe he’ll be lucky. From what I’ve read, the males don’t always get eaten. /Gary

** EPILOGUE: Travis contacted me later to report:
“After 24 hours he was gone. She stayed. I couldn’t find any remains of a crime scene.” /Travis

Praying mantis on a leaf. Photo by Travis McATee, Concord, CA

Mantis on outside of bathroom window. Photo by Sharon Burt, Concord, CA

Gary:
The Aliens have landed …right outside my bathroom window!

I’ve been lucky enough to live in a neighborhood that is apparently “Happy Mantisland.” I’ve noticed them every year since we moved here 18 years ago. They are one of my favorite insects!
Sharon Burt, Concord

Sharon:
The praying mantis is an amazing predatory insect. It they were as big as, say, a Chihuahua, it wouldn’t be safe to go outside! /Gary

Preying mantis and hummingbird at feeder. Photo by Robin van der Bijl, Clayton, CA

Hi Gary:
I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw this praying mantis. I went out to take a closer look and saw he was chomping on a bee. I went in to get the camera and the little hummingbird joined him about the same time. Aren’t they cute?
Robin van der Bijl, Clayton, CA.

Hi Robin:
They are cute … but the hummingbird is probably wise to stay on the other side of the feeder. I saw another photo once upon a time where a very large preying mantis was eating a very small hummingbird. It’s a jungle out there! /Gary

Preying mantis eating bee. Photo by Robin van der Bijl, Clayton, CA