Praying Mantis(es)

We have only occasionally come across these unusual insects - once at the sunflower farm..

..and occasionally in parks and gardens.

This last week, however, we have seen three of them around the (outside of the) house.  The green one, above, was quite small - just a couple of inches long.

Then one night a rather larger green Carolina Mantis was on the outside of the insect screen.  It soon became obvious that it was there to catch smaller insects that were attracted to the light.

Rather gruesome to watch it chomping on a moth!

Yesterday, this one was hunting by the front door..

I moved it onto a bush, where he was much better camouflaged..

Unusual creatures - so far we have only seen them stationary - not sure I would want to come across one of these larger ones (c. 4 inches) on the wing!