How Many Mantis Made it to the New Year?

Maybe four (that I can count) made it alive since the week before Christmas (you can see the previous posts about this here- http://standardspicywhatnot.blogspot.com/2011/12/its-preying-mantis-christmas.html  http://standardspicywhatnot.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-old-christmas-preying-mantis-brood.html http://standardspicywhatnot.blogspot.com/2011/12/mantis-update.html. )

The few that I see that are left are bigger and more colorful. I found this one while cleaning the table the container/habitat was on. I put it into the container because I am afraid the the dead ones are that way because of lack of food. There are fruit flies and crickets alive and good for the eating in there.

They seem savy and ultra-aware....for a half-inch creature. I love how they move their head and wait for....I imagine a bug to fly by and eat. I hope I can get a a couple through the winter and have some wonderful garden protectors in the spring. 

This is the pile of dead ones I found while cleaning the table. 

So neat!