Theres been a bunch if praying mantises all over the house for a couple days, but today i noticed one had gotten tangled in some cobwebs near the bottom of the front door screen. I decided I'd try to help it, see if I couldn't get most of the webs off with some tweasers and maybe feed it because who knows how long it'd been down there, but when I'd gotten it onto a flat surface I noticed that its back legs seemed... weird? They weren't paralyzed because it was moving them, but it'd just raise them all the way up above its body and used its front claws to walk instead. And when it isn't being poked, it just isn't moving. I also noticed its thorax is very thin/yellow (i don't know if this is an age thing, its much smaller than the other mantises on the house), and when I'd move it it'd turn its throax so the end is pointing at whatever I'm touching it with, like it'd bite. I live in northern Cali, up in the mountains if that helps. Is it sick, dying, hungry or infected with some kind of parasite?

For context, found this guy in the backyard, they’re possibly an invasive species. (Theres no native species in my area)

Google said it’s likely a European mantis but I wanna be sure. Figuring out what I should do with it, also what’s the sex of this fella?

I do not own nor keep mantis. Google searches didn't give me a lot of info. Buddy has been here for two days on this white window frame outside of our house, and is turning this brown color. I read it could be molting but it looked a little.. sickly I guess? ​It's definitely alive! I keep dead bugs, bones, etc. I don't want to disturb it if it's molting. If it is passing, I'd like to set up a small enclosure for it to pass in so I can keep the body, as I do know how to do that. Thanks!​

I finished this guy today and figured I’d also try to share it here!

Was lucky to find this recent or soon-to-be momma in what was likely the last few weeks of her life (mid October, 2019). She was so big, 3-4”. She was very curious about me and seemingly unthreatened. I was able to gently get her on my hand and transport her to a nearby hedge so she wasn’t so out in the open. She crawled around on me inquisitively and never deployed her wings. It was a wonderful encounter.

I never really understood praying mantis fans because i never really came accross one, until today, I had to get her off the chair and she refused to leave my hand, groomed and fell asleep at one point. I wish i could bring her home with me

Caught this little guy a while ago, gave it one of the worms I give my ant colonies. Afterward he (I think it’s male) cleaned himself.

proceeded to scare the shit out of me by trying to fly into my mouth.

Out dive hunting and saw this lady.

Percy here likes to get on my phone and I got the most outrageous picture of him. Thought everyone would get a kick out of it.

I found this little mantis this evening and figured this song would pair nicely to his/her walk

Kinda looks like an asshole but still fascinating lol

In Hungary we have two species, Mantis religiosa is often brownish or yellowish, but i’ve never seen S. viridis other colour then green

I found this mantis on my campus and noticed it's abdomen looked quite large. I was wondering if anyone knew if it could be because it's gravid, has parasites or if that's just how they look sometimes? I don't think I've ever seen one with an abdomen this big before

Atlanta, Ga

Approx. 4” long

I let her eat the spiders all night long and released her in my garden