A huge bug scurried out of the tiger lillies

[debodun]

This jumped out of the plants where I was pulling up weeds. I believe it's a praying mantis, although I've never seen one in person before. It's between 3 and 4 inches long. It startled me when it skittled along the house foundation. This is the best photo I could get of it and I didn't want to disturb it anymore than I already had.

 

[Nathan]

He's one of the good guys, is why I don't go crazy with insecticides.

 

[Don M.]

A Praying Mantis is a "good " bug....they eat lots of other bugs. We have quite a few every year, and they are a great "insecticide". When I was in Thailand, years ago, the Mantis over there were huge...often 10 or 12 inches long. We used to have fun with them by holding a stick or screwdriver near them, and watching them grab it.

 

[debodun]

When I was in Thailand, years ago, the Mantis over there were huge...often 10 or 12 inches long. We used to have fun with them by holding a stick or screwdriver near them, and watching them grab it.

Fun for you, probably not so much for the mantis.

 

[Nathan]

A Praying Mantis is a "good " bug....they eat lots of other bugs. We have quite a few every year, and they are a great "insecticide". When I was in Thailand, years ago, the Mantis over there were huge...often 10 or 12 inches long. We used to have fun with them by holding a stick or screwdriver near them, and watching them grab it.

With a mantis that size you're lucky it didn't take the stick/screwdriver away and try to stab you.

 

[Nathan]

Here's last year's praying mantis, he stayed for months living on the sunflowers.

 

[debodun]

Mantids are like ladybugs - good for the plants.

 

[debodun]

I just went out and it was still there and I was able to get a better profile photo.