Praying Mantis

[homegrown]

Well, i'v spent lots of money trying to kill insects. But This is the first time iv ever spent money to purchase an insect(s). Wife and i were out at the nursery today and something caught my eye..it wasnt any of the beautiful flowers or plants..it was a cartoon picture of a bug..iv been in the house too long. So long story short..i bought a praying mantis egg sac or(ootheca). Built a wire cage for it and hung it in a lilac tree near the pond. I'v read good and bad reviews about egg pods and successful hatching, so im gonna give it a whirl. I'll be happy with one lol.

 

[CaptainWiese91]

This sounds very cool !😎. So much I’ve even want to try this my self 😆

 

[alltatup]

A few years back we had animated discussions about praying mantises; one grower had one in his grow room who ate all the bad bugs. The grower put out a capful of water for the mantis and snapped a shot of her drinking from the cap. Smart animals, for sure. They're definitely good allies.

This is a skinny ass male I had hanging around a couple of years back. I've seen a green one this year, still tiny, so I'll try to get a pic when she grows...

 

[CaptainWiese91]

Nature at is best

 

[UndergroundFarmer]

Keep up updated when the blessed event happens.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I love praying mantis they are truly a gardens friend like the lady bug. I read where a praying mantis ripped the head off those killer bees no problem. So lets get them killer bees awful I hear. I've not seen one in my garden for few years?

 

[SoOrbudgal]

LOL blessed event haa haa

 

[homegrown]

beautiful pic!

 

[homegrown]

Well the hired guns have arrived!!:joy: Went out to relax and have a coffee, realized the table was crawling with these little critters. Im guessing around 50-100. Still hatching!!

 

[alltatup]

OMG they are GORGEOUS!!! CONGRATULATIONS, you're a father!!!!

 

[UndergroundFarmer]

Homegrown is gonna go broke passing out cigars!

 

[homegrown]

Thanks alltatup, Just a couple of days ago i was tapping on the casing wondering if i had a dud(maybe i woke them up lol) They seem to head to the ground just after emerging..must be for safety im guessing. I did strategically place a few on my outdoor plants and they seem to like the environment..they havent left yet anyway.
Eat all you want kids.... Never said that before in this house..

 

[homegrown]

And @ UndergroundFarmer, i cant afford cigars, its gonna have to be doobies. I'll get some fancy " Its a Bug " rolling papers. gotta be something out there...

 

[alltatup]

homegrown Please keep posting pics as they grow!!!!! I need my mantis fix.

I saw one in my garden a few weeks ago, I hope she's still lurking...

 

[Dieselgrower]

thats pretty awesome!

 

[homegrown]

Bug update...these little buggers got decimated in the first couple of days..even tiny spiders the size of a mantis's head...deadly to the newly hatched(probably why the hatch consists of (20-200). Dont seem to be very intelligent for the first few weeks either. I know they sway side to side to mimic a leaf in the wind..but these little ones do it all the time...even when theres no breeze at all...guess they'll figure it out eventually. They were about 1/4 inch when hatched..i'v seen a few today..almost an inch long now. One in particular seems to like having its picture taken...always looking at the camera..lol

 

[alltatup]

Little adolescents, good job, Pop!! I am so envious!! I think they are amazing animals that bring tremendous power and good vibes.

 

[Smerft85]

I'm lucky, I have mantises and ladybugs that swarm my garden every year. Just saw a baby mantis last week looking at me like it was his plant, I talk to my garden friends just as I do my plants and he knew he was going to be safe right where he stood proudly.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I don't see many that i can recall around my garden. Lots of ladybugs though.

 

[alltatup]

They really DO have that way of staring at you like, "Hey!!! Whadduya think YOU'RE lookin at???"