Meet The Praying Mantis’ Spotted In Wyoming Gardens

If you recall the TV show King of the Hill, Hank and his buddies often hang out in the alley by their homes, engaging in neighborly conversations. It's a great way to learn about what's happening around the hood and find out about your neighbors.

My neighbor Sam and I were chatting when his wife spotted something on their tomato plant. They were both amazed when they saw it and mentioned they'd never seen one in Wyoming.

When they mentioned that, I was a bit shocked, because I'd seen quite a few over the last couple of months, in multiple places around Casper. My wife, Dana, has a couple of these fascinating creatures as little buddies at work.

Praying Mantis

You may have also seen a Praying Mantis or two around Wyoming, but if you haven't, it's probably because they aren't native to the Cowboy State. The Chinese Manti was introduced to Wyoming to help control garden pests like mosquitoes and caterpillars.

The Praying Mantis gets its name from its front legs. When resting, the two front legs look as though they are folded and praying. Hence, the Praying Mantis. It's recommended that if you happen upon a Mantis, let it be, since they do a lot of good for plants and are a big help to growers.

The downside to them is that they are very predatory and may consume the beneficial native species of insects. They're not really all that harmful to humans, but their praying front legs can pack quite a strong bite. So, if you do come into contact with one, be careful.

If you spot one, you're likely going to notice it is either brown or green, because they are really good at blending in. They are masters of camouflage, which they use to avoid predators and, at the same time, search for food.

They have five eyes to help them search for their food, and when they find their victim, they use the spikes on their front legs to pin their meal down, preventing it from moving.

So, if you think you see a Praying Mantis, but didn't think they were in Wyoming, you likely did see one. They're incredible to watch and see how they interact with other creatures.