![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0enlEDWqiuUw78IIvlKewxU_cUGmKEO8gtrv9_08QixsDVkeYO0VzK0ntqK163a4pDtbyU-PPX21Ix0kIU1Eh8c6eIyZBafJzUH6ZoHBVjUSIv1IkvMshzbz6YO4KAibOJU1JtIW8kyV/s400/1.jpg) |
Here are some of the praying mantises of the summer of 2019. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WlGxX_gTTlAV-iovBH-lDzLyl-OR9e8itaMS743ySzIAN9zXgWUT8GhPg-g1rIALVGNx2bnNyFn8O5WLiIlODCmFzbbLKLxc_cw_UhJ6aptIS57HEk2r1Ds2osGxnuQj7MOpz-VD2vjp/s400/2.jpg) |
This one is doing a good job of blending in. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_89_an352eH13LzReA5ofVU_CtC5NxhnhDCN5WYSut0vgcvU0ykn_vODJC6kpkoWh8_J9xQRElZfs_FF5OMeTJ0HSf42EvRBPfefMSu0B65s4KKMQS8coUAcCGBUKRui_9fbFgmYyH7ww/s400/3.jpg) |
Watching me. Click to enlarge. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGWUSZHa4pOgH4xsaeJdSDkdNYXZFmZhczE9AlUweSHckxGnoV9icpxs2eRHDnXG0VrumT6eh9TvhiZUahQgHmFL_LY9iA_C2ErmPHzBnir7YrgTInlnUdRlmo9NPZcG7LDpbA2Ij8ACR/s400/4.jpg) |
A poem by Ogden Nash: | | |
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From whence arrived the praying mantis?
From outer space or lost Atlantis?
glimpse the grin, green metal mug
at masks the pseudo-saintly bug,
Orthropterous, also carnivorous,
And faintly whisper, Lord deliver us.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF_8007Bfvtkw9j8ZS1VXfa9EZmn7K3AXtvaCyMi0iQjRn8MQkunIjjzsi1zPa845CLGtFLpUN9XHMdMBys15_kli4zbqY38CjcmVL7niY8twkdYiGTd8SmivDb7be5qkaffKnT6iYusQ/s400/SEPARATELAYERS+copy+copy.jpg) |
The other day a mantis appeared on one of my windows. I took its picture, just a silhouette without the usual tangled background of leaves. It was easy to isolate with Photoshop to make graphics like this one. Reminds me of the Karate Kid in this pose. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzdhvB4sa68-SSfYTwCcDcr41bokJqxZUyTQGEe73A26nmWxmaZqBED99lUSMhn7WUsEe2z838MfCusr4wI05pwDbDpopCsnER8sam8mkI8MUbxMBx44nNVOlVO99MZHS09ODYIwxTUqN/s400/kgreenmantis.jpg) |
And this. Gotta love a little mantis art, right? |