07august-371.jpg Yes, it’s an insect, a praying mantis, I know that.  I am attached to this specific insect.  His (or her) name is Manti and in my house he is known as “Mom’s bug”.  Several times I have purchased an eggsac from planetnatural.  This year I have been able to keep this mantis alive through many molts.  This is the first one I have ever had make it to the wings stage.  Don’t panic I usually release most of the babies and keep only 10 or so as “pets”(100 - 200 hatch out).  Today he apparently sustained an injury just prior to molting.  As you can see by his wings molting has not gone well either :-(  also if you look close his back legs are not right.  My main concern is the injury.  It appears that maybe he had a wound that has left a small opening in his outer shell allowing a small piece of intestines to protrude.  So although I know it is silly I am sad for “my bug”.