When I was a kid I spent my fair share of time playing outside. Curiosity fed exploration and I was exposed to all sorts of wonderful experiences. I remember my first encounter with a mantis (praying mantis). It was with both admiration and fear that I beheld this small creature.

Later I learned that some types of mantids will kill and eat its mate. I think it has to do with helping to meet their nitrogen demands. This is also why we husbands should be nice to our wives.

Mantids have been around for several million years (the Cretaceous period… partying with the dinosaurs). Today, there are five species and we find them on both sides of the Rio Grande. I found this fellow on the driver’s side view mirror. That’s why it looks like there are two of them. Seeing him against a mirror provided a nice dorsal-ventral aspect. After I took the photo I flicked him on his rear end and he flew away.

         Photo taken by the author.