It started with a small surprise — “dozens of baby praying mantises, each no bigger than my pinky finger, crawling up the walls.” They had just hatched by the doorstep, turning an ordinary morning into a quiet miracle.

Praying mantises begin life inside a hardened egg case, or ootheca, laid by the female on a sturdy surface. When spring warmth arrives, “the case splits open, releasing a miniature army of translucent nymphs.” Each tiny mantis immediately starts its solitary hunt for survival.

Known as “nature’s pest control,” mantises feed on insects like flies, aphids, and mosquitoes, keeping the ecosystem in balance. Their “two large compound eyes move independently,” giving them nearly 360-degree vision, and when prey comes close, they strike with astonishing speed.

Seeing them up close felt like “a front-row seat to one of nature’s most delicate beginnings.” Observing without touching, keeping foliage for shelter, and avoiding pesticides are small ways to help them thrive.

Across cultures, the praying mantis symbolizes “patience, focus, and divine timing.” Watching them reminds us to slow down and notice life’s quiet wonders — “a whisper from nature saying: Life renews itself constantly. Pay attention, and you’ll see it everywhere.”