Since When are We Entomologists ??

The past two days we've acquired a few new pets. First, a praying mantis that has really cool stripes. Second, a HUGE black beetle. (He flies too...)

Check this out...

He has been "kid handled" a little too much I'm afraid, so he's not moving around all that much anymore. But he's been fun to watch! Since we have no idea what kind of mantis he is, we looked through all the pictures on the What's That Bug? website, but no luck. So last night we sent the pictures in to see if they could identify him.

Ryan has decided that he wants to build an obstacle course for him and has been letting him crawl all over him. I'm thinking that he won't be around that long, unfortunately...

I'm really surprised that Ryan has been playing with the mantis so much, just a few months ago, he was deathly afraid of any bug! Looks like he's starting to grow out of it!

We'll have to pick up a magnifying glass and a microscope so we can check everything out up close and personal!

(By the way, it's amazing how the praying mantis will clean itself and look around. You would almost think that it had a few things to say! Maybe it does!)

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Our other new acquisition is called a Tile Horned Prionus - from the long horn beetle family. We're not letting this one out of the jar though. Who knows what kind of mischief it would cause!

This guy is quite shiny and active. Fast too! Here's a closeup if you dare! (On another website.)

So yes, our little entomologists are quite fascinated with the insects we've found so far. As long as I don't have to touch them, were all set!