Preying mantis's getting ready for next year...

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Sep 28, 2007

Sadly they won't see it... they only live one year.. and this guy on top didn't even live that long. Yikes! Glad i'm not a preying mantis

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Sep 28, 2007

But they do lay a lot of egg cases about the yard. Each year they seem to double in number.. .but then so do my plants and so do my pests... so it all sort of works out... still, what a strange life.

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defoecat Pleasureville, KY(Zone 6a) Sep 28, 2007

Bet that thwarted the good feeling he must have had seconds before that shot!!

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Anaid San Antonio, TX Sep 29, 2007

If their life expectancy is only 1 year then the little bitty ones I saw this summer in my garden will not be around next year as grown ups? I was really thrilled to see them this summer cuz I hadnt seen any in my area in years. I live in the same house now that I did growing up. Back then I use to see them alot along with the light bugs, toads and horned toads. None have been in the yard in a long time. This year (Lord knows why) I noticed the Praying Mantis and some toads in the yard. I'd love to see the return of the light bugs and if unavoidable the horned toads too.

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Oct 01, 2007

Oh my! She found another suiter... I feel like warning him before it's too late!

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desert_witch Lucerne Valley, CA(Zone 8a) Oct 02, 2007

LOL You guyz r so funny!!! Those males LIVE for that moment!!! Still for them, "la petite morte" is actually, "le mort grand", eh?? So who can tell me if I'm going to be able to keep the Chinese Mantises I just ordered alive through our winter here in the High Desert, of So Cali??? I can't believe how many lil brown hoppers I have this fall! They are eating my baby greens faster than they can grow!! And these lil guys are quick! When I gardened in Pomona, I could catch those big green grasshoppers in my hand and then stomp them, but I can't catch these desert hoppers to save my soul! LOL. Yeah, I know... I'm older and slower, but I swear these guys are faster, too!
The egg thingy I ordered is supposed to hatch 150 + mantises. I have no idea what I'll do with that many, but if they don't live long, I suppose all will be well. I just hope they don't eat too many of my hummingbirds!

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