just hanging around

I stepped out the front door to shake out a blanket and noticed a praying mantis hanging on the awning support.

Just hanging out. I went in and got the camera, and started around him, taking pictures.

His head turned as I moved along and his eyes looked at me. Rather unsettling.

I think what makes them seem so weird is that we don't expect insects to have intelligence. I can't think of any others who do, that I know of. I told my theory to my brother, and he said when ants see a threat, they scamper away to escape getting squashed, but I think that is just instinct. This guy followed me as I went around him to get a good angle - he turned his head and looked at me.

I first used the point-and-shoot, but then got my DSLR; when I focused, his jaws were working - it seemed like he was silently crabbing at me for bothering him! At least, that was my thought, but it turned out he was chewing.

He hung around a while, then disappeared, and then I realized I've never seen one flying.