Enter Babylon, or, why I keep needing crickets.

[cadhla]

So people have come to notice an increased number of references to crickets (usually in the context of 'where are the damn...'), preying mantises, and, most specifically, my preying mantis over the past week and change. And not being stupid, people have started to comment on these references, usually by demanding the context which I have so

Comments

[rms_butterfly]

I also like mantises/mantisi(?), and I think it's very cool that you can keep Babylon with you at work. *hugs*

[cadhla]

She doesn't make much noise. Her dinner does, but that's another issue.

[rms_butterfly]

I work for the State. I'm sure there's a rule against having non-human companions in the workplace (other than service animals), regardless of how much noice is or is not made. :-p But, I'm happy for you and for Babylon.

:-)

[vixyish]

I wonder how hard it would be to convince them of the existence of a Service Mantis.

[stagemanager]

Honest question: how did you determine her gender?

[cadhla]

By counting the segments in her thorax.

[elucreh]

My favorite bit of this entry was the bit about cooing to a Starbucks cup, right up until your matter-of-fact answer to that question.

Do you know how simply and undeniably you rock??

[agrumer]

What do you do over the weekend? Can you just leave extra crickets in on Friday?

[cadhla]

She can go a few days without food; she's just grumpy when I get to work on Monday morning. Much waving of the scythe-like forearms.

[almeda]

It's mostly just mammals and other warmblooded critters what HAVE to eat every day. The rest of the animal kingdom manage with what they can get, when they can get it. Maintaining a steady body heat is expensive, metabolically.

[vixyish]

And even we don't have to eat every day if we get enough water. It's unpleasant, but if you're ever stranded on a desert island, deal with the need for water first and food second.

[mdlbear]

Cool!

My brother (currently teaching herpetology at Old Dominion University) was always the one for odd pets, but if I remember correctly it was Dad and me who live-trapped 13 flying squirrels in our attic one winter.

[patoadam]

According to A., what they say about what female pms do after they mate is actually true. I find this disturbing.

[tigertoy]

I'm sure it does happen, but I know from my own observation that it doesn't happen every time. Last year about this time (this is praying mantis season, at least in central Illinois), I saw a pair mating. I watched them for a bit; no male-eating going on, or anything else for that matter, so I went away. I came back a bit later and they had separated and moved a few feet apart, but the male was still all there and in good working order.

Should you find yourself reincarnated as a male praying mantis (and still mindful of this anxiety), perhaps the above will be of some comfort.

[almeda]

Studies were done recently. Apparently the male finds it easier to get away in the wild than in a terrarium.