Got home this evening after work and pulled back the curtains from my bedroom window. I was checking a dish on my window-sill, in it was pixified herb left to dry out.

Beside the dish, up against the window sat a praying mantis.

"Hello!" I cooed to the mantis as I plucked her from beside the dish. I turned, and with her held gently between thumb and forefinger walked out of my room, intending to deposit her outside. After a few steps I stopped dead.

"Whooaaaa..." was the only drawn out syllable I could make as the significance of the find hit home.

Well, when I had realised where she was sitting and who she was I couldn't very well just chuck her outside, so now she's become a pet. I'm not sure how long she'll stay but I welcomed her into my life this evening by providing her with some live houseflies. She's voracious and quickly devoured 5 flies and a flying ant.

I had hoped the big meal might have pacified her somewhat to allow me to handle her and photograph her. But alas, she was wild and skittish as a mountain mare and she kicked and bit at me with surprising ferocity.

Now to get her a better home than the jar she currently sits in.

M