Praying Mantis Dejavu Redux

I haven't personally seen a praying mantis in over ten years, that I can remember. Now, in less than a week I've seen two.

I wondered aloud if it was because we've been smart enough over the past twenty years to learn something about the poisons (DDT, etc.) that we subject mother earth and mother nature to, and that we might possibly be using a brain cell or three.

I used to keep praying mantis as pets in my room when I was a kid, much to my mom's delight. Not. I kept a few for as long as a couple summer months before giving them their freedom back. Had one particular mantis that would just sit in my hand and look at me. Trippy shit for a 10/11 year-old, to be sure.

Granted the one from last week was a monster female, and gorgeous, longer than from the end of my middle finger to my wrist, a half an inch past the palm. One of the largest I'd ever encountered. But this guy here was cool too. And, it was a treat to see the both of them.....