Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sunday Safari

One evening last week
we saw a Praying Mantis
on the ceiling in the dining room.



She was beautiful!
I was honored she had come in.
She seemed to enjoy the Twisting Willow branches
that are over the windows.



I was concerned that she might get hungry.
I do not see many bugs in the house.
The days passed and she seemed content
to stay on the branches.
I was pleased to have her near.
Off and on during the day I would visit with her.
I thought if she was hungry she would go to the door
and I would just let her out.



After five days in the house I was really worried.
The right thing to do was to take her outside where
she could find food.

The rain stopped long enough for a few Skippers to come out.
Manti was able to grab one.
I watched as she ate her meal.
I was happy for her.


27 comments:

Sheila said...

I like the way they follow you by moving their heads. I'm sure she was grateful for her meal.

Anonymous said...

Amazing pictures...
The Preying Manta look like creatures out of space to me.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers Gisela

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a hoot having a praying mantis as a house guest. Isn't it amazing that they can live so long without food? Maybe there were some spiders that didn't come out until night that she dined on while she was inside.

I hope your area isn't flooded. All we got from Ike was lots of wind. No major damage, just a couple of broken flower pots.

marmee said...

these are some of my favourite garden creatures. i find it very cool to share my space with them. very nice you were able to have him with you. i am sure he was happy to get a meal.

meggie said...

I will bet she appreciated your care, & thoughtfulness!

Marimoy said...

Awe! Manti is quite large! I am glad she got something to eat.

Rose said...

How funny that the mantis would find her way indoors! I'm glad you let her outside, though. I've seen so many this year in my garden; they're always welcome guests.
Glad you got some rain; we in the Midwest have gotten the benefits of Ike, but my heart goes out to those along the Gulf Coast who have suffered so much. I thought of you this past weekend when I saw that tornadoes were moving into the Kansas City area--I hope they missed you.

Saucy said...

One of those beauties landed on the cupcake of another blogger... it scared the living daylights out of her but oh my he was really wonderful! I wonder if you should give this fella a name?

Chrissie said...

I do find them a bit creepy but great pics, Sherry :-)
Happy New Moon to you - too cloudy here to see her :-)

ChrisND said...

A nice guest...glad it could return outside. I noticed that the eyes seemed to change color from the inside conditions to the outside.

Wendy said...

I'm glad she finally found her way outside and ate her meal.
I also noticed her eyes changing colour. Maybe it was the light?
Your pics are so clear - she looked as if she might just jump out at me!
Hugs.

flydragon said...

I've always enjoyed coming across one of these strange looking "praying ministers" which is what we called them when we were kids. I think they're one of the weirdest looking creatures I've ever seen.

kkryno said...

In the first photo, she almost looks like she's smiling at you! I was always fascinated with these little guys.
Lovely pictures, Sherry. Thank you.

Love, Vikki

Q said...

Dear Sheila,
I like that too. I think they are very cool bugs. An ancient species. The Praying Mantis is my September bug so it was very fitting she should be showcased!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Gisela,
They are very strange looking bugs. I love the folk lore that is associated with them too. I actually love everything about these insects. One of these years the Praying Mantis will be my bug of the year...
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Lisa,
Years ago I brought a mantis in right before frost. She lived another month on my indoor plants.
I had thought maybe this mantis was happy on the twisting willow because of little spiders. I cannot see any but some are so small. As it was I think she needed a regular meal.
We were okay from all the rains. It has been a wet year for us. Glad you did not have the floods like Chicago. I tried to watch Ike as he blew on north. Some did have the high winds. Glad all is okay at your house.
Climate change is here.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Marmee,
I also think the Praying Mantis is a very cool insect.
I watched another mantis today find yummy skippers in the butterfly bush.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Meggie,
I like to think she knows me now!
I love knowing she is in the gardens.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Rose,
No touch downs here but the sirens did go off a few times. We are still in tornado season, May-October. I have never seen one and it would be just fine if I never do! They are scary.
We are good on rain for a spell. Over the four days I received 4.5 inches. That will hold me for a week or two!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Saucy,
How funny to have a mantis on your cupcake! I love them so it would be a beautiful cupcake topper.
All praying mantises end up being called, "Manti" at my house.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Chris,
Happy Harvest Moon to you too! I always think of you when the moon is full and shining brightly.
The mantis is a fantastic bug.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Chris,
Her eyes did seem to change. I bet it had to do with the light.
I was so charmed she had come in. I would have loved having her stay but I could not provide the right enviroment. It would be the same if a butterfly came in. I would love it but not right for the bug.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Wendy,
Thanks. I keep hoping my macro lens will come in so I can really get up close!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Flydragon,
they are strange and wonderful bugs.
In American Indian tradition the Praying Mantis is about being still and waiting. We can learn so much from watching the insects,the birds and animals.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mimi,
She was an older mantis too since she had already turned brown. I have a couple of green ones in one of the butterfly gardens. I also am glad we have lots and lots of Skippers.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Vikki,
I like to think she is my friend! I know bees can recognize a human face. I wonder if a mantis can?
Sherry

Barbara said...

It is interesting to see that there also exists Praying Mantis in brown color. Recently I took a picture of one but in green. I hardly saw it among all the plants.