August 23, 2007
My son hasn't visited for more than a day in five years, and he'd just arrived for a week long stay. So what better family activity than to crawl around in the dirt at midnight!
You wonder why, eh?
Well, I have (or had) this amazing spider web spanning my 6-foot wide picture window in my living room. Even my son thought it was cool. It was inhabited by some innocuos spider that was growing by leaps and bounds. But, as we were sitting and watching a movie, I noticed a stick in the works. Not wanting my growing spider to lose its home, I decided to remove the unsightly debris. Much to my surprise it turned out to be a baby praying mantis stuck in the silken tendrils. Thankfully, it was a warm and perfect summer night.
Carefully, I extracted the poor beast. The very sticky web did not make that an easy task. I had to get a coat hanger, because the web was more than five feet off the ground and veeeery carefully try and separate the delicate, but strong threads from the equally delicate and strong bug.
As I put the hanger near, the mantis seemed to get that I was trying to help it out. After breaking this magnificent web, I pulled the part with the trapped mantis toward me. The grateful creature latched on to my finger for all its life. Contrary to what I've read, the Mantis never "bit" me with its feet. Again, with care, I separated the live leaf on legs from the tendrils of the web and my new friend sat on my hand, seeming to try to collect its wits.
My son ran in and got my Kodak V610 digital camera and we proceeded to take as many shots as we could before our friend decided it wanted to wander off in search of food. It posed, it winked, it sat; it was the perfect insect model. So, what you see here in the attached photo album are the results of our midnight rescue.
Now, that you have read our story, here is a little information about our new friend
"The "Praying Mantis" is truly a most remarkable creature with a striking appearance and curious habits! Over the past few years, populations appear to be increasing throughout Ohio. More and more inquiries are received at the Ohio State University Extension Entomology office regarding biology and life cycle of this beneficial insect. They do not bite humans, damage household furnishings, nor spread disease. However, when handled, their spiny-like forelegs can be readily felt as a "sharp pinch." Mantids are most commonly seen in late September and early October either resting on a plant or "fluttering" through the air, sometimes mistaken for a hummingbird. Some appear to resemble leaves or flowers in shape and color.?
Source:
Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2154.html
William F. Lyon
Professor of Entomology
Extension Specialist, Household & Structural Pests