My new exterminator, Willy...

[SecondMonkey]

I just thought this was funny. It must be because there's a creek and some woods in front of the building, but lately I've found at least 10 giant praying mantises in my shop. I usually work at night with the door open and bright lights on, so it attracts a lot of bugs.

I leave a small worklight on above my work bench for security. It used to be that after about a week there would literally be a big pile of dead bugs under the light I would have to sweep up.

Then my new exterminator, Willy, moved in. He's a European praying mantis about 3 inches long. He's been living on my work bench now for about two months, completely unrestrained. The pile of bugs I used to have to clean up is completely gone now, all that's ever left is wings and legs, I guess Willy doesn't like those parts.

He just sits on the top of the light and waits for the bugs to come.

Waiting for dinner...

I let all the other ones go in my yard to eat bugs until I realized they sell for 20 bucks a pop on ebay!

 

[rpn453]

Very cool!

 

[robshelton]

Gotta love the Mantis! There's nothing wrong with letting a few live around your area. The coolness factor is enough for me to try to keep a few around! Hopefully the ones you let go will reproduce and perhaps next year another will return to your insect smorgasbord!

 

[greenaccord02]

That's cool. Those mantises do not play. Talk about a killing machine!

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Bugs give me the creeps. If I saw one of those things the first thing I would do is grab the bug spray.

 

[SecondMonkey]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Bugs give me the creeps. If I saw one of those things the first thing I would do is grab the bug spray.

He keeps the possibly dangerous spiders away too! I've literally seen him chase down a small spider on my bench and eat it. The mantis is non poisonous, and doesn't bite. They are very friendly little buggers that will crawl around on your hand. It can fly away but chooses not too...

But yeah, watching him eat the guts of a still living moth is kinda creepy.

 

[Gary Allan]

I like nature taking care of annoying stuff. Ladybugs ..preying mantis ...bats...and spiders (kept out of your way) ..are just dandy as far as I'm concerned.

The Preying Mantis is one of the cooler bugs. It doesn't appear to be xenophobic about hanging out with humans

 

[simple_gifts]

The mantis is CT's state insect. It is reported to occasionally eat small vertebrae.

 

[Propflux01]

I have seen a few of those around my house as well, but lately I see alot of 'walking sticks'. Never had those around before, now they are everywhere.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

When I was stationed in Korea and lived on the third floor, they were all over the outside stairwell. The stairs were well lit and attracted huge amounts of bugs. There were several different kinds of mantis' and at least ten per floor every day of summer.

The cicadas were the same size as ours, but were black and orange...and about three times louder than ours.

 

[addyguy]

That is really, really neat. He certainly doesn't seem to mind people.

 

[BrianWC]

If you put that near my ear I might tell you where to find the Genesis device!

 

[wantin150]

That's kind of neat actually. I guess she figures she has it good, plenty of food and no worries from the outside world.

 

[SecondMonkey]

Well, I guess it's that time of year. After a good 3 months on my bench Willy's time has come.

RIP buddy.

 

[crinkles]

rip willy. hope he spread his genes somehow.

 

[greenaccord02]

RIP - There'll probably be 10,000 next year and you'll wonder why you let Willy stay in there.

 

[addyguy]

He lived a good life, and had a friend that cared enough about him to tell his story to the world - who could ask for more?

RIP, Willy!

 

[rpn453]

Willy and Charlotte will get along well in the afterlife.

 

[crinkles]

he died with his boots on.

 

[PandaBear]

I nominate this as the BITOG thread of the year.