Posts Tagged: Lohit Garikipati

Shall We Prey? Mantises Are Totally Fascinating

Bring on the praying mantises! An enthusiastic crowd is expected at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday,...

A backlit praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, reigns supreme on a yellow zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A backlit praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, reigns supreme on a yellow zinnia in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis strikes a familiar pose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis strikes a familiar pose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

No more pictures! The Stagmomantis limbata crawls down the zinnia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

No more pictures! The Stagmomantis limbata crawls down the zinnia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, claims a different view of the world. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, claims a different view of the world. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Green Legs and Bam!

Have you ever seen a green-legged praying mantis on a green leaf? Praying mantis expert Lohitashwa "Lohit" Garikipati, identified this...

Green legs of this male praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, are camouflaged in this patch of African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Green legs of this male praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, are camouflaged in this patch of African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Find the Praying Mantis in the African Blue Basil

Honey bees absolutely love African blue basil. If there ever were a "bee magnet," this plant is it.  We first learned of African blue...

In this image, you can see two bees on the African blue basil. But can you find the praying mantis? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In this image, you can see two bees on the African blue basil. But can you find the praying mantis? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oh, there you are, praying mantis! Enjoying a little sunshine, hmm? This one is a male subadult male Stagmomantis limbata, as identified by mantis expert Lohit Garikipati, a UC Davis alumnus now studying for his master's degree at Towson (Maryland) University. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oh, there you are, praying mantis! Enjoying a little sunshine, hmm? This one is a male subadult male Stagmomantis limbata, as identified by mantis expert Lohit Garikipati, a UC Davis alumnus now studying for his master's degree at Towson (Maryland) University. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Milkweed's New Buddy: It's Not a Monarch

Our showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is putting on a show. The towering plant--a good eight feet--anchors the garden as...

A praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, hanging out on a milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. after molting. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, hanging out on a milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. after molting. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The exoskeleton that the praying mantis just shed is lying on a milkweed leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The exoskeleton that the praying mantis just shed is lying on a milkweed leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Will a Praying Mantis Eat a Caterpillar?

Will a praying mantis eat a caterpillar? Short answer: Yes. For several days, we've been watching a resident praying mantis, a female Mantis...

Gulf Fritillaries flutter over a praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, in a passionflower patch in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillaries flutter over a praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, in a passionflower patch in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ahh! The praying mantis finds a non-fluttering target, a Gulf Fritillary munching on the leaves of a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ahh! The praying mantis finds a non-fluttering target, a Gulf Fritillary munching on the leaves of a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha! The praying mantis stretches her spiked forelegs to reach the caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha! The praying mantis stretches her spiked forelegs to reach the caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Will a praying mantis eat a caterpillar? Yes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Will a praying mantis eat a caterpillar? Yes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis rapidly finishing her dinner. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis rapidly finishing her dinner. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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