Found at Eugene contest

[Leo Mehl]

This praying Mantis was seen at the Eugene contest in August and it thinks that Steve Helmick is a tree.  It tried to dissapear in the grass but was soon found. It decided Steve was of the poisonus nature and decided to not pounce on him.

[Steve Helmick]

Leo...Thanks for the picture! You needed to resize it, however. I did that for you, so the "walking stick" aka Praying Mantis will be easier for others to view.

Interestingly enough (maybe?), this was the second one of these critters I saw on the trip. The first was in Albany. There must be a good crop this year? Or maybe the organic farmers buy them to keep the bad bugs in check, like they might buy Lady Bugs?  Neither can do a good pattern, however.   Steve

PS: I hear they taste like chicken...

[jim gilmore]

When I lived in the desert of palmdale ,ca. I was removing tuble weeds and found them to contain many young mantis.

[Steve Helmick]

My Sophmore year of HS was at Desert HS, Edwards AFB. We flew R/C out at Rosamond Dry Lake, a little CL out behind the General's house (uh, across the street) and occasionally a sport FF on the dry lake. T-shirts at Christmas...but August was killa...never saw no Praying Mantis. That was '61. Small world, tho.  Steve

[Bill Heher]

I remember getting a 1-way trip to the principals's office in 5th grade courtesy of one of those guys. I sat in the very back of the class ( surprise!), and ther was a hole in the window screen and a Praying Mantis found his way inside.  Guess what- if you mess with one long enough they will bite you!
The resulting turmoil - i.e. hand waving w/ bug hanging on, jumping out of my seat, and an unfortnate choice of words- led directly to the office of Mr. Flagg.  On the plus side- the World Series was on the radio and he said " just sit there, be quiet, and you can listen to the game".

One of my more pleasant trips to his office- no Board of Education applied to my backside like I usually received.