Subject: Praying Mantis
Location: Mount Washington, Los Angeles, CA
October 2, 2017
2:38 PM
Hi Daniel,
I found a desiccated praying mantis caught in a thick spider web. Must have been sticky… aren’t they strong enough to pull themselves out of a web?
Great Autumn day, my favorite time of the year.
Monique
Hi Monique,
Look more closely at your image. See the split down the back and empty shell? This is an exuvia, the shed exoskeleton of a Preying Mantis. Somewhere in your garden, there is probably an adult Preying Mantis. This is the time of year they are maturing, mating and laying eggs in an ootheca in preparation for the start of a new generation next spring.