The larger PM's with the swollen abdomens are females,
I love finding them in my yard and encourage them to stay. Here is one that took up residence on a potted mum by my front door.

Now that one *does* look like it's praying!

She always prayer before a meal.

Yikes!

Good one, Lynn!

Karen,
That's just creepy! (The mantis hiding)

I sure don't want one catching my hummers. I don't put a feeder out, but have plants available all spring and summer. Maybe they have a better chance for survival that way. (The hummers :o)

Sally, that's exactly why I was feeling badly for the Hummers. Like I was luring them to a certain bad outcome by providing the plants they love.
What a conundrum!

It certainly is. But alto I have to stick to what I said, everything has to eat, the pretty get eaten too. We do what we can to save things tho. If we didn't, we wouldn't have a heart for the defenseless.

I actually wanted to save the cicada, but sadly, it was a bit too late. I had to walk away.

I've been looking for a place for this little bugger. This is it.

Here's looking at you, kid.

Tee,
Nice shot!!

Thanks, Sally.

Very nice, Tee.

Have not seen a grey one around here.
All are that lime green color and huge, some are 5" long.

Thanks, ya'll. It is so funny when they turn their head toward you even though it's the movement they are responding to. It's as if they know you. That one looked like he meant business. I just left him alone.

Nice shot! Sure blends in well with the wall!

There is a huge number of PM species....lots of colors. Oh the other night my DH was watching the history channel, a show about ocean species. He said come look at this....when I looked it was familiar but didn't know what it was. It was a Praying mantis shrimp!

That's it, they're trying to take over the earth. Next, there will be flying ones....

Wouldn't surprise me.

They actually turn color from green, to brown, to grey to blend in with their background.