The insect shown here is a native insect called a praying mantis. Its name comes from the way it holds its large front legs, as if praying. There are about 20 species of praying mantis native to the U ...

At this time of year, some nurseries start selling the egg cases of Chinese mantis as a biological control for the garden. These alien-looking insects are praying mantis and are harmless to humans, ...

Even though I know that praying mantises are not native to New England and that they are not beneficial (due to their voracious appetites for anything small and alive) I still wait for them to show up ...