Praying Mantis Mom

Chers Amis,

Look what Caddie found creeping around our bushes - a very gravid Stagmomantis carolina or Carolina mantis. Carolina mantids are very easy to identify as their wings only extend 3/4 of the way down their abdomen. Hers is very swollen and she was in no mood to be handled, which was obvious when she nipped Caddie. We wish that we could have followed her to see where she would lay her ootheca or egg case. (Isn't that a great scrabble word!)

-- Marjorie