The backgrond to this picture is indeed our stucco siding. This little monster was scaling the castle wall, so to speak. If he was any larger it would really give me the willies.
If I were to guess, it would be that this is a mature female Praying Mantis. The color is right, the head and body-end look right. What I don't see is the two "hands" which Mantii use to "grab" their prey -- other insects.
If it is a Mantis, you should attempt to save it from freezing to death; its eggs and future in your yard and garden will pay off handsomely by being a fully-organic method of nuisance pest control.
That is so cool. I have never seen one of those in this side of the state. I saw one once when I lived in Pullman and of course I saw one in Costa Rica, but I didn't know they lived in Western WA.
I bought a cocoon of Praying Mantis' several years ago to keep the aphids (and other chewing pests) off of my roses. They were extremely effective! But they are also very cannibalistic, so I moved some of them across the street and watched one of the grab a big leaf beetle of some kind! Late in the summer or early Fall, I caught a big female that I thought to hold over until spring. She was so unhappy in the jar in which I put her that I felt sorry and took her outside to winter over in the Camellia bush next to the house. I hoped it would be warm enough so she wouldn't freeze. Unfortunately, that's the last I saw of her -- no offspring next year, either.
4 comments :
If I were to guess, it would be that this is a mature female Praying Mantis. The color is right, the head and body-end look right. What I don't see is the two "hands" which Mantii use to "grab" their prey -- other insects.
If it is a Mantis, you should attempt to save it from freezing to death; its eggs and future in your yard and garden will pay off handsomely by being a fully-organic method of nuisance pest control.
Tell us more!!
EWWW!!!!!
That is so cool. I have never seen one of those in this side of the state. I saw one once when I lived in Pullman and of course I saw one in Costa Rica, but I didn't know they lived in Western WA.
Tom
Is it confirmed that this is a Praying Mantis??
I bought a cocoon of Praying Mantis' several years ago to keep the aphids (and other chewing pests) off of my roses. They were extremely effective!
But they are also very cannibalistic, so I moved some of them across the street and watched one of the grab a big leaf beetle of some kind!
Late in the summer or early Fall, I caught a big female that I thought to hold over until spring. She was so unhappy in the jar in which I put her that I felt sorry and took her outside to winter over in the Camellia bush next to the house. I hoped it would be warm enough so she wouldn't freeze. Unfortunately, that's the last I saw of her -- no offspring next year, either.
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