Those of you who know what June bugs really are, are probably saying right now, “Hey! Those aren’t June bugs!” And you are right, they’re not. But it’s June, and my human and I have some baby praying mantises to release.
My human loves praying mantises. I’m not sure we really need any in our yard, but the thought of having a few around appealed to her, and they do eat bad bugs (and any other bugs they can get hold of). So she went to the nursery and got a container with a couple of egg pods. You’re either supposed to attach them to a branch outside or keep the container in a cool place inside. She did the latter, and the instructions said that as soon as they hatched, they needed to be released. Well, that’s exactly what happened! My human saw all the little buggers just a little while ago, so it’s time to set them free. Of course I am helping.
Here I am, performing quality control as soon as my human opened up the container. She thinks I am nearsighted. I just wanted to see them up close.
And now you can see them up close too! They are tiny. With any luck, some of them will grow up to be the usual three or so inches long.
The main reason you have to release them right away is they hatch starving, and they will totally eat each other if they can’t find anything else to eat. Oh, also, when they grow up and mate, the female sometimes bites off the male’s head and eats his body. I’m not sure I like these critters!
My human has no reservations about these guys. She even encouraged them to sit on her hand. I guess she is too big to be eaten anyway.
And hopefully I am too! Although I’ve heard the really large kind of praying mantis will even eat birds! Maybe we tiny predators need to stick together.
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Wow they look really fun to have in your garden! We love praying mantis too
WOWY, the mantis that eat birdies must be huge! My mom used to see a mantis on the fence each year, but hasn’t the last few years.
Cool stuff, Summer. I have never seen a baby praying mantis, let alone a whole lot of them. I hope some of them do grow up big and eat lots of bugs in your garden. It I ever come back as a praying mantis, I hope I’m not a male one.
You and your human sure do a lot of interesting things!
MOm’s not up for bugs generally. Now me…that’s another story.
They are cute when they are little. mom’s not too sure she would want that many in our yard…we have a plethora of weird bugs as it is…But what I want to know Summer, did you eat one and was it tasty?
LadyMew an mee nevurr seen baby Mantis’ss eether!! They are so eeny teenny an furry cute.
Wee hope they all grow up big an strong an keep bad buggiess outta yore yard! Miss”J” iss simplee amazin!! An so are you Summer!
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew
I used to hold them as a kid. Fascinating creatures. The eating each other thing a bit creepy. I think wide separation would be good. They were almost eliminated due to pesticipesticides. Glad they’re making a come back. Lady bugs still my favorite
How neat, Summer! We hope the praying mantises don’t eat the ladybugs your human released in the garden!
Our mom loves praying mantises too! (She even took one in once when it got very cold here and made a little terrarium for it. The only thing it would eat was a little Fancy Feast tuna Mom hand-fed it on the end of a toothpick. Yes, our mom is weird.) Our old bro William had many as friends who would visit at the windows. They are pretty remarkable.
We hope those babies flourish in your yard!
Ooh, how fun!
I think they’re sorta creepy too, Summer!
I like that they eat bad bugs, but I have heard they will kill a hummingbird so now I am afraid to have any in our yard.
amazing! My human likes praying mantis too.
We see Mantises here sometimes, too. Petcretary lets them be cause they DO eat lots of bad bugs, like you told us.
We have the usual pretty green ones, and once in a while we see huge brown ones.
Yikes….we had no idea they would eat each other!!
The Florida furkids
Those little ones will be having some fun in the great outdoors!
There’s a lot of cool stuff going on in your yard, Summer!
Purrs,
Tama and Benny
I have always been careful of the praying mantis’ in my yard
too. I like them – also like walking stick insects but don’t see
them nearly as often. They should help protect your
catnip from other bugs!
Look at those wee babies!
Oh those are so cute. Had no idea you could buy those.
I’ve never seen a baby praying mantis…I have seen a grown one. I hope these babies do well in your yard, Summer.
Well that figures that they would eat each other if the are hungry seeing as they eat their mate too! I have never seen a praying mantis but the look similar to stick insects we get here. As far as I know, they don’t have the same cannibalistic tendency though.
Those tiny mantises are awesome! Dad says he’s always been intrigued by Praying Mantis’s looks. We sure hope they take care of all the bad bugs and then some.
Here’s hoping those critters eat the nasty bugs in the garden.
Mum has never seen one around here. Maybe our climate is too cold.
Purrs, Julie