Several Leverett residents chanced upon an exciting spotting last Sunday afternoon (no, not Shaq) when they encountered a praying mantis in their house courtyard. Though praying mantises are often released into gardens to devour pests, their natural habitat doesn’t stretch this far north, making this quite the unusual find.

Lisa M. Ackerman '11 and Elizabeth C. Spira '11 first encountered the praying mantis on a bench in the Leverett House courtyard and were quickly joined by Leverett House tutor Jeffrey B. Miller. Miller helped move the mantis to a hedge where, according to Miller, “he was basically invisible unless you knew what to look for.” Miller and Spira later photographed their encounters with the insect.

Photos courtesy of Jeffrey B. Miller and Elizabeth C. Spira.