Mantises on the Prowl

Mantises that emerged by the hundreds in Spring have faced many hazards, starting with cannibalism by their hungry fellow nymphs and going on to predatory spiders, birds, cats, lawn mowers, string trimmers and more.

The survivors are now looking for mates and the females need to make egg cases before cold weather sets in. Males may not come out of the mating process alive, as the females are known to devour them.

This one is a female and already has the swollen abdomen that indicates eggs have been fertilized. For some reason, this one has been spreading her wings. I hope she has not been injured by a cat or bird.

All the mantises will die at the end of the season and then those of us who are fascinated by them must wait until late April or early May for the next generation to appear.

--Bernice