Today, we invite you into our garden (literally) to pause and reflect on nature. Here we see an insect known, in English, as the praying mantis. It is called a PRAYING mantis because when it holds it's two front legs together, it looks like it is praying. The scientific name Mantodea and common name, MANTIS, come from the Greek word for prophet. As for why it is called a prophet, we do not know.
What do you think of when you see these insects. Praying prophets? Do you see the beauty of nature and the world around you? Do you see a tidy little bug that does no harm to your garden, yet devours bugs that are harmful to the garden? If you are a little cricket, stuck in the grasping, spiked forelegs, you might call this insect a PREYING mantis. Does you perspective change learning that the closest living relative of the mantis is a cockroach? Like poets and writers have been saying since the Greeks in the 3rd century, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What beauty can you find today in your world?
You pose many thoughtful questions to think about.
I love these unusual insects and their Latin name, Mantis religiosa.
Posted by: Dina | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 07:14 AM
Now that you mention it, it does look a lot like a green cockroach! Oh, I will never consider a praying mantis to be beautiful again! Great photo though.
Posted by: RamblingRound | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 08:12 AM
We call it Bogomol. Praying to God. And it is first time I see this insect thanks to you.
Great photo. And the text is so deep.
Posted by: Irina | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 09:27 AM
Love your play on words.
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 10:41 AM
I love mantids; they are one of the more unique insects. And anything that eats garden pests is a good thing in my book! Love the green on green; that's an excellent capture!
Posted by: Buck | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 11:36 AM
i love to watch these amazing insects...
the way that they turn their heads and watch me back.
it's fascinating!
Posted by: chasity | Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 09:23 AM