This year one has taken up residence in our butterfly bush, right outside our den window. I would spot it nearly every day. It was brown on the top and green on the bottom, so it blended in well with the branches. It was interesting to watch, but I was glad there was glass between me and it. One day it must have sensed me watching it because it quickly turned its triangular shaped head with bulging eyes toward me. Still creeped me out. When the winds came it would hold on for dear life. Last week when it was windy it must have decided the window would be easier to hold onto.
I would often see it using its forearms quite vigorously. I assumed it was getting food. But a couple of days ago when I looked for it, I found it had snagged something a bit bigger. I had to get outside to capture a picture of this.
Poor bee didn't stand a chance. When I came in I did some Googling about the praying mantis. They go after big prey. One photo showed this insect taking out a little hummingbird. The photographer said the mantis had waited an hour for this bird to land. Pretty remarkable. Now, if only the praying mantis could get rid of these nasty bugs that have been around for well over a week.