A New Garden Visitor

With a face only a mother could love. Or a father, in most cases. Because the belief that Mr. Mantis always loses his head when mating is apparently true less than thirty percent of the time. (Although, it also seems that he is a better lover without his head. Apparently, all his inhibitions go away.)

On the other hand, all those brothers and sisters better watch out - if there isn't enough food around, the new generation will begin to snack on each other.

Camouflaged Mantis

Katydid

This praying mantis was discovered in the Aristea inaequalis, planted out in the parking strip (the purple flowers are from the adjacent verbena). The stupid Aristea is supposed to be "bloomiferous" but it hasn't done pooh-pooh). Completely camouflaged, the mantis must have been stalking its next meal.

There are a number of mantis species found in northern California. Until I spotted this one, I had never seen a mantis in this garden. Somehow I had imagined that sharing space with the local katydids just wasn't cool. Strange though, I haven't heard the katydids calling much since the mantis showed up....

Sources:

About education

Digital Insect Collection