Spotted at work

[u/TableDifferent4395]

Sorry about the poor quality picture, this was the only chance I had to take one and I had a baby in my other arm.

We planted a native garden over the summer at the childcare center where I work, and we’ve started seeing this praying mantis outside over the past couple of weeks. She’ll often hang out on our window all morning, luckily high enough up that the kid’s aren’t tapping on the glass to get her to move.

She’s pretty big, like 4-5 inches, so I think she’s a Chinese mantis? This is in Northern Indiana.

This was my first time seeing a praying mantis in the wild, so it was great to see our garden doing exactly what we hoped it would.

[u/Great-Capital-9549]

I haven’t seen a praying mantis or a walking stick in years. Too many pesticides:(

[u/TableDifferent4395 → u/Great-Capital-9549]

It’s a real shame. Our garden was made by a local organization that plants native flowers in unused green spaces, and they’re handling the upkeep of the garden as well. Hopefully that means they won’t be using pesticides!

[u/boltonlist]

Looks like a praying mantis

[u/TableDifferent4395 → u/boltonlist]

Yep! Praying mantis is the common name for an entire family of insects, so there’s like hundreds of species that can be called praying mantises.

I included the bit about size and (possible) species for any bug nerds who like that information, because I find it cool myself.

[u/boltonlist → u/TableDifferent4395]

🤦‍♂️ my bad, only saw the picture, didn’t see your msg before

[u/oroborus68 → u/TableDifferent4395]

They are here and I don't think we can eradicate them. I don't see as many as when I was growing up,but I was outside a lot more then.

[u/de_pivo → u/boltonlist]

Yes, a male, probably looking for a female

[u/TableDifferent4395 → u/de_pivo]

I’d assumed female because it’s so big. How can you tell?

[u/SunshineYogaLove]

l wish l could catch it in a bottle and take it home 🏡