In the folds of the soft, pink-tinged yellow rose, I spied a bright green insect. At first I thought it might be a praying mantis which are a real treasure to find and very few and far between. The last praying mantis to come around the house, I found in our garage one night hissing with its back arched and putting up its dukes against our two gray cats. He’d successfully warded off the two wide eyed felines, including twenty three pound Sampson. It was a comical sight indeed. I gently wrapped the mantis in a paper towel and set him free in the backyard to go gently into the night.
Upon closer inspection, I see that this critter bedded on the open rose is a grasshopper. I’ve never seen one as compact as this one. His body resembles the contours of a maple tree’s little pollywogs.
I’d found him last evening, so I was shocked to see that he was still there this afternoon. Believing him to be dead, I moved very close and could see the waving antennae. Interesting little bugger for sure. Perhaps he is leaving this world and decided to go out on the delicate petals of this garden rose. I’ll keep an eye out for him. I think he’s vulnerable to birds because he’s not camouflaged very well. Yet it’s not my place to disturb him and even if I did, where could I put him that would be any safer?
It’s funny how interesting things can pop up in the world. They make you question what they are and what they’re doing. And they can leave you wonder struck like that brave sparring mantis keeping our two cats at bay all those years ago.
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