I was startled. A praying mantis materialized in the flowers, inches from my hand. I was watering with a hose, and the big bug made its way gingerly up a nearby fence to escape the water. I was ...

The insect shown here is a native insect called a praying mantis. Its name comes from the way it holds its large front legs, as if praying. There are about 20 species of praying mantis native to the U ...

At this time of year, some nurseries start selling the egg cases of Chinese mantis as a biological control for the garden. These alien-looking insects are praying mantis and are harmless to humans, ...