Pray - A mantis?

A beneficial insect, the praying mantis, is 3 to 4 inches in length and you may find larger ones. Ryanne found a five inch green one in the wet habitat of the west coast last week. The common one found in the west is most likely the Carolina Mantid, in taxonomy - Stagmomantis carolina. As all insects it has six legs on its thorax, a segment most odd in the mantis, not a simple segment as found in grasshoppers or cockroaches, to which it is closely related. But its oddity and temperament make it an adorable pet.
The body is tannish-brown or pea green color. The two front legs are larger than the other four and are serrated and spiny, modified to close like a pocket knife. These mantids are carnivorous and eat other insects. Often one will eat another of its own species. Prey is held securely between the forelegs in a raptor-like grasp while being consumed by a vicious mouth in a triangular shaped head – another striking feature.
Last week I found an egg cluster about an inch and a half long glued to my cedar fence where I live in the Columbia Basin. I found others on boards and posts in years past. Overwintering occurs as eggs in this cluster that hardened from the frothy, gummy substance laid by the female perhaps two weeks ago (late August). Tiny nymphs will emerge from the egg mass early next summer.
The praying mantis is the only predator which feeds at night on moths and the only predator swift enough to catch mosquitoes and flies. They are named for the “prayer-like" stance of the front legs. The name mantis derives from the Greek word for prophet or fortune teller. The insect does look innocent and thoughtful as it waits patiently for food to fly within its grasp.
I found a 2-inch tan mantis while moving sand from under my new backyard gate. It looked most unhappy in that dust and began to walk up the side of my house to what it expected to be safety. I had more digging to do so I decided to move it into a more friendly habitat. When I tried to capture it, the wings opened as if it would fly away. They were the lovely filament like dragonfly and grasshopper wings, but the light tan color of its own body. It actually appeared disoriented and I was able to move it into the moist leaves of my garden. I shall keep a lookout for it. Perhaps it fed over the next few nights and is off doing whatever is in its nature to do. I hope it does not lay an egg mass on the house because that surface will be refreshed with new paint next week.
Woe unto all insects that have lived in safety on my outside walls for lo so many years, beneficial or not.
Naomi Sherer