I is For Insect–Praying Mantis
My favorite insect. Pictured below is one of 2,000 species in the mantis order of insects. Looks like a little alien. Praying mantis can be found in all parts of the world with mild winters and sufficient vegetation during the late spring to late summer months.
The praying mantis is the oldest symbol of God. For the Khoi (African Bushmen), it’s a manifestation of God come to earth: “the voice of the infinite in the small,” a divine messenger. “Mantis” is the Greek word for “prophet” or “seer,” a being with spiritual or mystical powers. In the Arabic and Turkish cultures a mantis points pilgrims to Mecca, the holiest site in the Islamic world. In France, it’s believed that if you are lost, the mantis points the way home. “Follow Mantis” means putting that core aspect of yourself, your foundation of Spirit, at the helm and let it direct your intellect and ultimately your life.
I read once that the mantis is “the T-Rex of insects,” and shared it with my kids. They love to tell this to their friends. I love the “Follow Mantis” part of your post…I may need to go out and find a gorgeous mantis specimen to photograph and put up in my office. 🙂
What a great idea.
Oooohh!!! I also love the praying mantis! although they are fairly common – I always feel so blessed to see one!!!
Me too.
Pretty vicious insect to be a symbol of God. Great pic though! I’m trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.
Hi there. Vicious for us, perhaps?
What a little cutie! Who knew that the Mantis was so holy in Islam and African cultures.
Lovely website with amazing pictures. The praying mantis is indeed an astounding insect and I love your glass frog too. Coming back for more in the A to Z Challenge.
Welcome, Jemima. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi, you must’ve signed up waay earlier than I did. Your blog looks good.
I’m number 600! Thanks Thelma.
And there is something magical about encountering one, isn’t there? I always feel compelled to stare for as long as I can.
I do like ’em.
P.S. You so delight me with your posts . . . not to mention your comments on mine. So I’ll jump the gun and say: ‘J’ is for joyous thanks.
Why, thank you! How lovely of you to say that.
What an interesting little creature. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person, but if I do, I’ll say a little prayer, or maybe follow it home.
Sweet!
I have been blessed to have two different Praying Mantis leave its egg sack on my succulent on my front porch over the past two years. They only live for year. There are up to a thousand little Praying Mantis who spill out all at once and they’re off. You have to be there at just the right moment to catch the hatching or you miss it. I missed it both times. The sack looks no different after they leave as it did when they were there. I hope one comes back again this year.
Laural was just telling me that you can buy those sacks (pet store?) and how they watched all these delightful little buggers pour out. Gorgeous miniatures.
Hello Rossandra.
You and I chose the same topic for “I”. My choice was at the last minute, about two hours before my schedule posting was due to happen. My first draft was written some time before, the word “Indaba” but it was boring. I really struggled to find something to write about for the letter “I” until I thought of insects and then it became a real rush to get it written before the deadline. I didn’t have much opportunity to add other peoples pictures and so used only my own. Guess what? One of them was a praying Mantis.
Your post is a lot more informative. Well done on a very nice post, Geoff.
Geoff, great minds think alike, eh? Thanks for kind comments.