Great Green Bush Cricket

[Helen in MD]

Looks like a Mantis.....but is it?  Thanks Janet again  

I think this is a mantis as the walking stick does not have the triangular shaped head. Have been seeing mantis and katydid around the house recently.  Just don't take a praying mantis egg thing (is there a better name?) into the house unless you want a zillion little mantises all over the place.

[valhalla]

Just don't take a praying mantis egg thing (is there a better name?) into the house unless you want a zillion little mantises all over the place.

We find the egg pods in the blue spruce Christmas trees (search well before bringing the tree in).  I must admit that I put them aside and give them my friends young sons to watch hatch in the spring.     The moms have to make sure the pods don't come into the house 

[harrispen]

Thanks so much for posting them Donna - appreciate it, as I wanted to share them and didn't have the time to get the process down straight.       

Anyway, Rich and I thought these 2 guys were a Katydid and a Walking Stick but, I'm not so sure now.     One thing I am certain about is that this group will know "who" these 2 bugs are. 

Big Thanks  again to Donna!     There - a little song in your Honor 

I nominate this post for the best use of smileys for 2009!   

[Bird Crazy]

second one is definitely a praying mantis.