- Author: Sterling Smith
Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa, preys upon a wide variety of insects even reported to dispatch a hummingbird…allegedly. They are generally considered a beneficial insect. Females are light green in color and large, about three inches in length when mature.
Egg masses are laid in the fall on tree branches, fences and other sheltered locations. About an inch long, they over-winter with nymphs emerging in the spring looking like miniatures of the adult. The author once collected an egg mass, left it in a covered jar inside, and discovered a collection of very active nymphs a couple of months later. Then I just released them into my garden.
Attached picture was taken over Memorial Day weekend, Mantis shown is about 0.5 inches in length.
There is a wealth of pictures and information on-line, enter Praying Mantis into your browser or by following this link to information on the UC IPM website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/mantids.html