My newest lesson: Praying Mantis
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:51 am
Two or three days ago, my wife and I saw a very unusual praying mantis on our deck. It was small, and gray, mottled with white and black, and very pretty.
Well, wife did some research, and it turns out that THAT is the real native praying mantis, and the big green ones that I grew up with are an invasive species that has almost wiped out the littler native beauty!
I’m pretty old, and spend a lot of my life outdoors, how did I not know this??
I’m on my phone now, but when I get a chance, if there’s any interest, I’ll post pictures of the gray mantis. I’m just shocked to learn that the praying mantis I always knew is an invasive species, and has virtually killed off our native mantis. Live and learn!!
Well, wife did some research, and it turns out that THAT is the real native praying mantis, and the big green ones that I grew up with are an invasive species that has almost wiped out the littler native beauty!
I’m pretty old, and spend a lot of my life outdoors, how did I not know this??
I’m on my phone now, but when I get a chance, if there’s any interest, I’ll post pictures of the gray mantis. I’m just shocked to learn that the praying mantis I always knew is an invasive species, and has virtually killed off our native mantis. Live and learn!!