New pet for Hannah...??

I was out watering the plants yesterday during Hannah's naptime when I stumbled up this bright green, 3+ inch-long Stagmomantis carolina or Carolina Mantid -- aka Praying Mantis -- crawling up the side of our calla lily! So i shot a few pics to email to my mom to find out if this guy, or as it turns out female, was a friend or foe. Turns out praying mantids are in fact very good garden pets. To quote from the web, "Being a carnivorous insect, the mantis feeds primarily on other insects. However, it is not uncommon for larger mantis to consume small reptiles and even small mammals or birds. To capture their prey, mantids use their camouflage to blend in with the surroundings and wait for the prey to be within striking distance. They then use their raptorial front legs to quickly snatch the victim and devour it alive. The primary predators of the praying mantis are frogs, monkeys, larger birds, spiders and snakes. Praying mantis will also prey on each other, usually during the nymph stage and during mating."

Good stuff. When i clicked on the link to find out more information, I was treated to a wonderful video of a mantis devouring a mouse. Hannah actually loves watching it - "More?" - and when the mantis gets the mouse, she calmly says "oops," and then starts smacking her lips to emulate the sounds made by the hungry insect.

So Jon, I think we may have our cure for the critters that appear to be nesting down in our wall again... I wonder where I can get more of these bugs??