LOL! Cute. I've been watching for them here too. I see several egg casings around and have been hoping to see them emerge. Don't know the chances but thought that would be cool to see.

For a while, the aphids were just everywhere here, then it got drier and they're much less. @mellielong, thanks for the aphid mummy info...there have been lots of those too and had been wondering what they are! Such a buggy year this is!

I'm just glad to know they have more enemies. The ladybugs can only do so much, I imagine!

Another mantid nymph, this time by my noid Plumeria:

Pretty little crab spider

Oh neat! Bright yellow.

I just love little crab spiders!

Grasshopper - nymph stage

Starting to see more and more of these dratted leaf-footed bugs on the tomatoes. Am not fond of their piercing-sucking, but don't want to use any pesticides. Any suggestions?

Those dratted things usually show up later in the year for me. I usually hand pick them and put them in a bowl of soapy water. I do the same with those terrible squash bugs! I also have a spray bottle of water and some soap for spraying directly on the bugs. They will fall and die. The soap breaks down their waxy coating. It's not immediate but it is very effective. I wear gloves since they do emit a stink and because I don't really like touching bugs... I only like taking their pictures.

I'm going to try the soapy water dish. Will report back. Thanks, @wildflowers.
P.S. I'll wear gloves too!

Sure thing, GrammaChar. The leaf footed bug can fly so you might want to try sneaking up on it. I have tried using long tweezers to grab them and put them in the soapy water LOL! That way seems to work better with the slower squash bugs. Rubber (or surgical) gloves are a good choice.

You're right, Christine - they most certainly CAN fly. And my reflexes aren't what they used to be.....I managed to capture ONE (wearing rubber gloves which added to my klutz factor) and put it in soapy water. Humane disposal. Plan to go on another hunt tomorrow morning.

Charlotte, maybe a small fish net would be good at catching those pests. I got a small one at Wallmart to fish leaves and stuff out of my fountain.

I like that idea, Margaret. Need to get a net to try.

Me too! Great idea! Will get one the next time I go to town. Not today - flooded roads.

Glad you like the idea, it is soft and very fine mesh, about 4 inches, they had a bigger one about 6 inches.

@tarev, I'm sorry I missed you posts, I don't know how I did not see that cute lil mantid
I have not seen any this year. Tons of bad bugs tho

That reminds me! I want to go check the mantis egg casings that I saw over winter.

Thanks @froggardener