Praying Mantis Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

New Friend

Tiffany discovered she has a new admirer today. She was sitting on our porch, minding her own business – actually, she was playing with the puppies – when she felt a stirring in her hair. To be fair, the wind was picking up and she assumed it was just the breeze playing with the strands a bit. When the tickle persisted, she ran her fingers through her hair – and discovered she’d picked up a new friend.

Surprised, she flicked it away. It landed on the step right beside where she was sitting and looked a bit bewildered at its rapid reposition.

Almost immediately, this stealthy hunter (remember: hummingbirds!) started walking toward Tiffany again. It was as if she were magnetically drawn to her, helplessly succumbing to Tiffany’s irresistible allure.

Mantis Misdirection – Photo: L. Weikel

Photogenic

There’s no doubt about it. This bug was hot on Tiffany’s trail. Indeed, the Mantis looked a bit guilty for it. If you take a close look, you can see what appear to be its pupils glancing off to the right of the scene, sort of indicating, “Hey! Enough of me. Can’t we go after a bad guy or something?”

But I refused to be distracted. I wanted as intimate a portrait as I could muster of this otherworldly creature, and I knew this was my best chance.

I was impressed with just how photogenic this Mantis was. She liked being photographed, and even seemed to watch us with great interest. It does make you wonder.

It also was keeping an extremely watchful eye on the puppies. We all know Mantises were a seasonal treat for Sheila – and only last year (and the late summer, this year) did Spartacus start picking up the slack. I am pretty sure Mantis was both of their most loveable roadkill snack.

Last But Not Least

I wouldn’t feel right depriving you of a puppy photo tonight. In this one, Brutus is proofreading. He did a terrible job.

Brutus proofing – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-41)

Praying Mantis – Photo: L. Weikel

Come At Me!

This is Sheila, my Boston Terrier’s, favorite time of year. Why? Because she delights in the opportunity to indulge in a diet of crunchy greens, and for a few days (perhaps a week?) each year, there are an abundance of such ‘crunchy greens’ just waiting for her to discover them.

Young Love Gone Wrong

I know, it’s unseemly to make light of the grievous massacre that occurs each and every year at this time.

I’m actually not sure if it’s a ritualistic ‘crossing of the road’ that drives this species specifically at this time of year to cross the road in droves – consequently getting smooshed in droves by oblivious human drivers.

Or is it the heady euphoria (pun intended) of mating with one’s beloved, knowing deep down inside that once your primal urge to pass along your genetic material is sated, you will literally get your head bitten off by your partner in gratitude for your winged passion?

Roadkill Buffet

Whatever the cause, Sheila is delighted to offer her services as canine cleanup crew.

No kidding, it probably took us 15 minutes longer than usual to get around the circuit (the walk around – 2.2 miles) precisely because Sheila was busy prying up dead bodies from the macadam surface and relishing her favorite annual delicacy: Praying Mantis (PM).

Honestly, it was tragic how many Praying Mantises did not make it from one side of the road to the other.

One, however, was entirely affronted when Spartacus (Sheila’s enthusiastic son, who actually doesn’t care for the taste of Praying Mantises and would much rather prefer a random crushed hickory nut) ran up to it to determine whether or not it was alive.

BACK OFF! – or – Come At Me!*

Indeed, it was very much alive, thank you, not only whirring its wings at him in indignation, but also ‘putting up its dukes’ in a bellicose and authentically pugnacious attitude. Not having a taste for PM to start with, and not necessarily looking for a fight with anything for a second thing, Spartacus was easily swayed to leave it the heck alone. (*This is a ‘PG’ translation of my perception of just what that PM was saying to Spartacus when he went up to it and sniffed it.)

I immediately took its photo, trying to capture the indignation.

Of course, as I stood there, no fewer than three automobiles came through and passed us. The fact that we were seeing untoward carnage as we walked, necessitated I break my usual rule of non-interference. So after nudging the Praying Mantis failed to get it to move to the side of the road, I decided to gently grab one of its wings to toss it into the grass beside the road.

Aiding and Abetting Survival

This effort seemed to work well enough to at least save this one, very full-bellied, Praying Mantis. (I only noticed the girth of its abdomen when it landed almost upside down in the tall grasses beside the road.) I’m hoping it was a female, so I can imagine having saved millions of nymphs.

Anyway, since the primary lesson of Praying Mantis is ‘stillness,’ I’m going to close this post out and find some stillness myself – with my head on my pillow.

While the Circle of Life can be harsh, I at least took some comfort in Sheila’s exuberant appreciation of these “Zen Mantises.” (You know, the ones that were “one with the road.”)

Not everyone who aims to cross the road makes it to the other side. But at least there’s a lovable Boston Terrier willing to run cleanup on Tory Road.