Jeannie's Travel Addiction

Sept. 26, 2014

The other day my daughter noticed  this Praying Mantis in my Zinnia  garden  – not a sight that I’ve seen before, I’m sure due to their great camouflage.   It was fascinating because it  had captured a big bee and was trying to eat it.  Except the bee was still alive!   In my curiosity about this critter, I discovered  they can turn their head a full 180 degrees and the female sometimes will cannibalize her mate. They mostly eat insects ( alive)  although have been known to  also eat small frogs, birds, snakes and rodents.  The females  lay hundreds of eggs in a small case, and nymphs hatch looking much like tiny versions of their parents.  Is your skin crawling yet????