They creep up to the window
They climb up on the plants
They sit up on a green leaf
They watch the wasps and ants
We like these bright green ninjas
We love the way they work
We see them move so slowly
We watch their long arms jerk
When they’ve caught their target
They sink back down again
And munch the bug they’ve captured
Antennae, legs and skin
They’re really kind of scary
They move so soft and quick
If they were any bigger
I’d smash them with a stick!
In all seriousness, the praying mantis is an amazing insect and extremely useful in the garden. They are silent and efficient hunters and they prey mainly on common garden pests.
Most of the mantids we have found are in and around our rose bushes. There are–or were, a large population of Japanese beetles on these bushes. I think the mantids enjoyed a daily feast.
a pinch of homestead 
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