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The Worcester Line really bugged him today

By adamg on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 9:34am

Preying mantis on his leg

Roving UHub photographer Will Kilburn reports:

While I was listening to the Clash's "Police On My Back" on the Worcester Line, this little guy landed on my leg... and stayed there all the way to Beacon Hill, where I finally shook him loose at the little park in the back (couldn't bring him in to work - strict no-pets policy).

Neighborhoods: 
Beacon Hill
West of 495
Topics: 
The T
Free tagging: 
Commuter rail
Worcester Line
insects
Praying mantis


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Comments

By Elmer on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 10:07am.

.

By gotdatwmd on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 10:25am.

I've only seen one mantis in my life at a rest stop somewhere off 95 in CT. I must have spent 30 minutes just watching it. They are super cool critters (and HUGE).

By Bearwalker on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 10:28am.

Are they still on the endangered list? As a kid I remember being told it was against the law to kill one (not that I would), also to pick lady slippers.

By anon on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:27am.

Urban legend. http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/mantis2.asp

By tcf098 on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:34am.

I was wondering the same thing this last weekend. I was mowing my lawn and noticed one in the grass, so I mowed around it, leaving the patch it was sitting on unmowed. Yes, that was my good deed for the day.

EDIT: http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/mantis2.asp

By anon on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:40am.

They're not endangered. They're not even native. There are two introduced species here in New England, the Praying Mantis from Europe and the Chinese Mantis. The one pictured is a Praying Mantis.

By anon on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 1:00pm.

So Will has helped spread an invasive species. Better check his backpack for Asian Lonhorn Beetles.

By Peter_the_Gr8 on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:04am.

Yes, I'm running down the railway track.
Could you help me? Mantis on my leg.

By Lecil on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 1:22pm.

Did he have "the talk" with his little buddy about girls? I'd hate to send a young gentleman-mantis out there without one. ;) :)