We found a praying mantis a week or so ago while taking a walk. Of course, this completely superseded the original goal of going to the post office and we had to go back home to get a jar. Upon researching it, we decided it was a female, probably due to lay eggs soon. We built it a habitat and found it a couple of grasshoppers to eat in hopes that it would lay its eggs where we could watch. Unfortunately, we left it outside and it froze the second night and killed it. Apparently they do something to keep themselves from freezing that it couldn't do in our little habitat. Oops. We did get to watch it eat part of a grasshopper, though! The mantis typically bites its prey behind the head in the back of the neck, which is supposed to immobilize its victim (I'm not sure why since insects don't have a spinal column to sever). Anyway, if you click on the photo (don't click if you don't want to see) you can see the place in the back of the neck of the grasshopper where the mantis began its meal (there is also a back leg missing). They typically devour the whole insect, but I think this one got a case of stage fright. We learned a whole lot more about mantises, but I'll spare you the rest!
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