Mantis Invasion

When I stepped outside to throw a load of laundry in the washer, I spotted a two-inch-long praying mantis lounging in the shade next to the machine.

I ran to grab my camera, hoping it wouldn't disappear; it was still there when I returned.

I took about 20 shots of the mantis (my kingdom for a Canon MP-E 65 macro lens) before putting my hand down on the ground in front of it. Triangle-head looked at me for a second and then took its time climbing aboard.

I took it over to the garden and showed it the plants and flowers. When it saw the greenery, it launched itself onto the closest sprig and surveyed its new surroundings. My little green friend was right at home there.

This wasn't the first praying mantis I've encountered, but the previous one was tiny, just like the one hugging the wall inside the house when I came back from the garden.

I knew it wouldn't survive inside the house for lack of insects to munch on, so I scooped up the little guy and took him to a different section of the garden, just to be safe; a mantis will often eat another mantis.

Two in less than 30 minutes: we're being invaded!

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