I was going to post this in the organic section, but....we didn't release them on the grass.

The kids got a bug land kit for Christmas, lady bug larva and praying mantis. It's pretty cool to actually see the entire growth process start to finish.

When the lady bugs got too gross for inside use (my wife made the determination) we released them on the azaleas.

The praying mantis egg, produced about 200-300 little guys and it was very wicked watching them crawl around the jar for about a 2 days. Then, again (my wife) hit her limit. We released them around the yard. Its been about a month now and we can still find them in the same bushes. The strawberry plant seems to be the easiest, he is always on top of a leaf near a berry.

In my mind, its pretty cool. Hopefully they will do some good

Too cool. Ladybugs migrate away from their birthplace. Mantises hunt each other, or spread out to establish territories. You should certainly keep some hanging around, though, as long as food doesn't get short.

I found a small mantis crawling around my backyard. Very cool. I don't know what he was doing in my yard though. I have almost no areas I would consider shelter for a mantis. Perhaps he was hunting some of the spiders and other food sources that crawl around my patio from time to time.

I've seen a lot of mantis this year for some reason, some really big and mostly crawling in the lawn. I stop the tractor and try to get them out of the way...I really don't like the thought of running them over!

[ Post made via Android ]

Assuming you could run them over. They'd probably band together, upend the tractor, and eat you.

It's currently illegal to kill a preying mantis in Pennsylvania--they're endangered. Which they should probably tell to the large and healthy population in my gardens.

I've always heard that killing them is illegal but I never confirmed. Unfortunately, I've found a couple dead ones on my deck this year. They are awesome insects but can be a bit terrifying when flying at your head! I'm surrounded by woods, so maybe I'll raise some to release into the wild and make up for the ones that the tractor driver doesn't see!

[ Post made via Android ]

For us it is, but state laws will differ. It's currently illegal to destroy bittersweet vine in New Jersey (again, endangered), but not in Maine (where it's common as dirt).

They are fun to watch, but yep, a bit scary when they suddenly head for you. They're huge.

I found one at work a while back, put him in a container for the remainder of the day and brought him home.. Hopefully I will see him again..