This praying mantis has been a regular in our yard for the last few weeks.

praying mantis

praying mantis egg case

It might have hatched out of an egg case like this one.

Here’s a short video of a praying mantis hatching. As you can see, newly-hatched praying mantids look like miniature adults.

Edit:

Just found a cool new book recommended by the NSTA.

Praying Mantises: Hungry Insect Heroes (Insect World)
by Sandra Markle

So, mantises is the correct plural now? I had learned it as mantids…