I was out in the yard taking photos on a windy day when I felt something tickle my arm. I thought it was a leaf, but looking down found this baby praying mantis on the move. I watched it for a while before setting it down on a leaf in a sheltered spot.
I suppose I should have a series about things found on my basil plants since they are many and varied. This praying mantis won’t harm the plant and it might eat some harmful bugs, but it’s equally likely to devour beneficial insects. Still, I think they’re fascinating creatures and I always enjoy seeing them.
I saw this little fellow gingerly making his was across one of the windows. He was no more than an inch long.
Praying mantis are fairly common around here, though they can be difficult to spot since they blend in so well on various plants. This one wasn’t hard to spot for obvious reasons.
Graham's Island 