Guardian of the pepper plant.

[Chilli]

One of my all time favorite insects.

 

[Sandog]

Really good pics.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Those are amazing pics, and without question that's my favorite bug...

Never seen one here in Western Washington..yet.

 

[pepperj]

Hey mate

 

[Chilli]

Thanks @Sandog @DizzyDigger @pepperj
I love seeing them. Was worried id mucked about too long as I let it get on my arm then it disappeared behind my back. I took my T-shirt off but it was gone. An hr later I saw it on the plant again, must be getting a feed on something. 👍
Yeah I know, it was probably thinking it was in a jungle. 😂

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

They start out innocent enough, but then they carry a bible and preach all the time.

 

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Great pics ! I don't have them around here at 8500 ft

 

[Chilli]

Great pics ! I don't have them around here at 8500 ft

Thanks. Wow that's some altitude. I bet you have a great view though. 👍

 

[ArfieBoy]

Those are amazing pics, and without question that's my favorite bug...

Never seen one here in Western Washington..yet.

We do have some here in the Grande Ronde (pronounced Grand Round) Valley here in northeastern Oregon. Years ago someone started a business that involved the praying mantis. Project didn't work out and the mantises were released. Now they inhabit the valley, not in huge numbers, but I see them every year now.

 

[Chilli]

We do have some here in the Grande Ronde (pronounced Grand Round) Valley here in northeastern Oregon. Years ago someone started a business that involved the praying mantis. Project didn't work out and the mantises were released. Now they inhabit the valley, not in huge numbers, but I see them every year now.

That's interesting. Was it a business like natural garden pest control using ladybugs? I often wonder about that wether most just end up flying away to elsewhere soon after release.
My luck id buy a $100 box of them, open it up to shake over my veges just to see them all fly into the neighbours backyard. 😄

 

[ArfieBoy]

That's interesting. Was it a business like natural garden pest control using ladybugs? I often wonder about that wether most just end up flying away to elsewhere soon after release.
My luck id buy a $100 box of them, open it up to shake over my veges just to see them all fly into the neighbours backyard. 😄

Yes, it had something to do with natural gardening.

Funny story about ladybugs. I was with my brother-in-law and we went to a gardening store to by a box of 100 lady bugs. Bought them and went to his home. A little later he decided he needed something else from the gardening store, so we went back. He walked up the same lady clerk he bought the bugs from. She recognized him, and dead-pan he said " There were not 100 ladybugs in that box I bought from you." She got a shocked look on her face and wondered loudly, "You counted them all?" We both broke down laughing and he admitted that we had not counted them! The shock on her face was classic. She was so relieved that we were just having fun with her!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice pics.

 

[BAW]

I agree that they are fascinating but I also find them somewhat disquieting. I once brought one into the house on some flowers, and when I used a finger to try to force it into my hand in order to take it outside, instead of trying to escape it spread its “arms” like a wrestler and took a few steps toward me. I looked at its cold expressionless face and dead eyes and realized that it was the most implacable, remorseless killer I had ever seen or ever would see. I still love to find them and study them but I am glad that they aren’t any bigger than they are.

 

[billb]

Nice pictures
Thanks for sharing mate