04/09/26

 I had a surprise this past weekend while cleaning up some dried leaves that had fallen on the floor from one of my potted plants.  I saw something move and I was like, "what the heck?"  I thought it maybe was an ant because I had taken a plant out on a warm day and had to knock some off as I was bringing it back in.  Imagine my surprise when I saw what it really was, a teeny tiny Praying Mantis.  I have no idea how it got in the house as I have not found any egg sacks.  I picked it up with a leaf and put it in one of the flower pots where I hope it stays until I can get it outside.  I quick got this photo while I knew where it was because it is so tiny, I will never see it again unless it should move while I am looking.

12/19/25

 It's Friday, TGIF!  Today's image is one I was able to get of the Praying Mantis.  I think this is the same female that had been on the Lantana but she had moved over to the Zinnia pot and gave me a great photo op.  I chose this photo for today because of the nice bokeh behind because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

12/05/25

 It's Friday, TGIF!!!!  It's been a stressful week for me and I am glad it's over.  Anyway, my image for today is another of the Praying Mantis that was visiting my Lantana this autumn.  She was not happy I got her wet while I was watering it.  Sharing this photo today due to the bit of bubbly bokeh in the background because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

10/23/25

 I was watering my potted plants last week and was surprised by this female Mantis.  She came up out of the plant and I think she was not too happy about getting wet but she let me take a few photos.  Female Mantis have thin antenna and fairly large abdomens.  I love their alien looking faces.

02/06/25

 So late this summer, early autumn, while I was watering my mums I would see this gal hanging out on them for a few days.  It must have been a good spot to catch dinner for this female Praying Mantis.  She was pretty cooperative with me taking a photo or two.  😁

11/21/24

 While out on a bike ride one day recently, I saw this female Praying Mantis on the side of the road.  After taking a couple of photos, I encouraged her to move off the road into the grass.  I hope she stayed there and did not go back out into the road and get run over.

10/17/24

 Today's image is a fun one I was able to get a little while back.  I was washing our travel trailer and there was a Praying Mantis that was perched on it in the sun.  I found it an odd place to find one but a neat place for a photo.  I really liked the shadow it was casting and that I was able to capture.

09/26/24

 I have not seen many Praying Mantis around this year but then saw 2 in 2 days.  This was the first.  It was at the railroad I help run outside Topeka where they store the locomotives.  It was getting dark and we had the light on which attracted numerous insects and then this guy who could get a fairly easy meal.

03/08/24

 It's Friday, TGIF!  I captured this female Praying Mantis last year in a few images.  This is one I hadn't shared where she is upside down in the Cosmos looking for a meal.  I am sharing this image today due to the bubbly bokeh in it because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

11/6/23

 Happy Monday and happy new week!  This gal would like to say Hi and have a good week as well.  😁  A Praying Mantis female that I captured on my Cosmos one day peeking out from beneath.

10/20/23

 Happy Friday, TGIF!  I was walking out to my garden where I have Cosmos growing to see if there were any good photo ops.  As I was walking I was reflecting that I had not seen many Praying Mantis this year at all.  To my great surprise, what should I see walking around the blooms....a Praying Mantis!  What a weird coinky dink.  I took this picture of it hanging from one of the blooms and looking at me.  Had to share this image due to the lovely bubbly bokeh as well today because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

11/25/22

 Happy Friday! I am not so TGIF this week as I have had a few days off.  😉  Anyway, today's image is one I found while going through my photos last week.  This is a Praying Mantis that was blending in quite a bit with the leaves of my Gazania flower.  I chose this image for today because of the wonderful bubbly bokeh behind because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

8/11/22

 Recently I discovered one of my young Cedar trees was just infested with Bag Worm sacs.  I was working at removing them from the tree when I discovered this guy hanging out in a branch.  It's a fairly young Praying Mantis who was cooperative and let me get a few pics of it.  I have been wondering if they eat Bagworms, it would have had a feast.  He also blended in really well and I was lucky to have even seen it.

2/17/22

 I wanted to share another of my Praying Mantis images.  They are such interesting creatures with their very alien looking head and long bodies.  I was able to capture this one on a couple of pieces of wood giving me a look.  

12/17/21

 It's Friday!  Woohoo, TGIF!  Fridays are also Bokehlicious so I chose this image with some lovely bright bokeh.  This is my Praying Mantis deck refurbing guest standing on one of the old posts and watching me work.

11/18/21

 Today's photo is another of my Praying Mantis buddies that was trying to help me work on my deck.  I put it in the strawberry bed.  It was nice enough to pose well for me after I moved it.  Funny how all the ones I had seen this year were on my deck.  Too bad they really couldn't help.  Might be done by now.  😏

10/12/21

 I was working on my deck the other day and saw this Praying Mantis while cutting some support boards.  After she posed for a bit I tried to move her because I was worried she would get stepped on or driven over as she was by the garage.  At first she did not want to be picked up but then she wouldn't get off.  😄  I think it's a she because of the dull color.

9/14/21

 I love Praying Mantis.  They are such interesting creatures.  This is another view of the one that was trying to help me refurb my deck.  Maybe I can get him back, progress has slowed quite a bit.  😉

8/20/21

 It's Friday!  TGIF!  Friday's Are Bokehlicious as well!  Today's image with some lovely bubbly bokeh is of a Praying Mantis that I saw while working on my deck recently.  This guy was on the post next to where I was leveling it and posed for a few photos.  I then had to relocate it to a tree because it climbed onto my shovel and it was too small to help with that.  😁

7/22/21

 I have seen a few of these young Praying Mantis around.  I captured this little guy on my watering can.  I gave him some exercise and he gave me a laugh as i turned the can around to get a better shot and he kept moving around the can.  I thought he was pretty cute, maybe she due to the muted color.