Praying mantis prefers any critter that is alive and moving. They'll eat butterflies (just the bodies, leaving the wings to fall on the ground), caterpillars, beetles of all kinds, each other, spiders, and your sawfly. They've been known to snatch hummingbirds out of the air, too.

They aren't allowed to remain in my gardens, but are promptly escorted elsewhere. ;-)

Watering the plants in the garden will many times flush them to the surface....I ran across a good sized one today....about 4 inches, I would say....living in Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies'.

I saw my very first praying mantis just a few days ago, and I am in southeastern PA. What do their egg cases look like, does anyone know? I want to know more about them, since they are such neat & interesting insects. I have heard they are a sign of good luck...is this true? Have also been told they can get "aggresive" if threatened, and have seen pictures of them being able to snare a hummingbird. Hope yours are out there! (I named the one visiting at my place "Hank". Lol!)
Emma in PA

You're best bet would be to do a Google Image search on Praying Mantis egg case so that you can see the many many different forms they take.

Are you asking if the myth of being good luck is true? No. Just a fable. All mantids are quite open minded about who they attack and eat, making them a pest to some of us. They will very happily nab bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the point where they are a downright hazard in my gardens! NOT ALLOWED!

They are interesting creatures, and very beautiful. Be careful how you handle them....they bite.

The egg cases will generally be about a foot off the ground...may be attached to a stem or branch...or attached to a surface as in the pic of one I found:

Here is a link that might be useful: