This was the coolest praying mantis ever! I don't think I've seen one this big before, and I swear it was tame! The kids all sat in a circle, and I set the praying mantis down in the middle of the circle onto the floor. Instead of trying to run away, it would hop over to one of the kids and climb into his or her hand. It climbed all over all the kids and touched their hair and faces with its amazing, little hands. Riley stood in the circle instead of sitting down, so the praying mantis hopped over to Riley, climbed his pants leg, went up his shirt, and sat on his shoulder rubbing on Riley's long hair. It was just amazing to watch! The twins are usually cautious around animals and creatures of all sorts, but this guy (actually probably a girl) was so friendly, they warmed right up to it. Ephraim was fascinated, although I didn't let him touch it. I was afraid he might love on it just a bit too hard. I had a hard time getting pictures of it because each time I would squat down to take a picture, it would run towards me, and once it saw the flash, it wanted to investigate the camera. The kids all played with it for over an hour before we took it back outside, and not once during that time did the mantis ever try to run away!
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Oh my gosh, this is SO cool! )I realize that makes me sound like a 12 year old.) :) I LOVE praying mantises. We have them here and I think they are so neat. That is a HUGE one! How great that you were able to let all of the kids explore. I don't like bugs AT ALL, but a praying mantis and a ladybug...love them. I found a praying mantis that didn't quite make it floating in our fountain and I nearly cried. (Not to much sadness for his fellow victim, the scorpion, though!)
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