It's a Girl

Well, at least one of our praying mantises is a girl. Today we were lucky enough to see it finishing up with its egg case. If the case survives the winter (it should) we will bring the branch inside this spring so we can watch them hatch. Since there are approximately 200 nymphs in a case, we'll be sure to put the case in something sealed! We won't be able to keep them for long, though, because they eat each other.

The other mantis is still hanging out here, too. Tyler watched it catch a ladybug today. By the time I ran in to get my camera and got back out, it had already eaten a hole in it. Our presence didn't seem to hinder his (her?) appetite!

 

Those 3 little dots between the antenna are simple eyes. The 2 big ones on either side are compound eyes.