- Okay, don't look now,
but right over my shoulder there
is a really good sized praying mantis.
We were just coming back to our room
and I was about to relax in the hammock,
and I looked up and there he is.
I'm gonna catch him.
(whimsical music)
And he's probably gonna pinch the heck out of me.
Oh, he spotted me.
(suspenseful music)
Oh!
Oh man, he got my camera.
(upbeat music)
(suspenseful music)
Oh!
Oh man, he got my camera.
No, no, get him.
- [Cameraman] Got him.
- [Host] You got it, Mark.
- [Mark] I got him.
- [Host] You got him?
- Ah, it's grabbing me.
(laughter)
- Come here, buddy.
Here we go.
I couldn't reach him.
Good job.
Way to nab him, Mark.
Look at that.
Wow, how cool is this?
Another praying mantis.
Now, in just a matter of three days
I have caught two praying mantises,
and everyone has been asking to see a praying mantis.
And I've been looking non-stop in Ohio
and have not been able to find one.
Sure enough, Costa Rica has brought us two.
Now, this is not a leaf mantis.
Ow, ow, ow, ow.
It's pinching me.
As you'll notice, this one doesn't have
that leaf design on his back.
This is kinda the more classic praying mantis
that I'm used to seeing in Ohio.
Let me see if I can get him to walk on my shirt.
Ready?
- [Cameraman] It's gonna fly away.
- Stay there, buddy.
Oh, okay.
So alien looking.
Oh, I see you.
It's flopping its wings at me.
He's looking right at me right now.
Yep, showing that dominant wing.
Look at the little dots on his wings.
Almost look like eyeballs.
And that gives him, come here,
that gives him the ability to ward off predators.
Another defensive pose that they will use
is you see the two little...
Come on, let me get 'em here.
He's got two little black spots on his arms there.
You see that?
And they will rigor up their arms like this,
you put your face in front of those arms.
Watch this.
Ah, ah, oh yeah, ah.
He's got the pincher on my nose right now.
I mean, I don't know why I'd want to let myself
get pinched in the nose by a praying mantis,
it just seemed like the right thing to do at this moment.
(classical music)
It's like there's an alien on my face.
Man, his little legs have tiny hooks on them
and I can feel all that going into the side of my face.
Where is he now?
Oh, there he is.
Is he on my hat or my ear?
- [Cameraman] It's a bounce move
saying I don't know what that is.
- [Host] Like this?
- [Cameraman] Yeah.
- [Host] You still see him?
- [Cameraman] Yeah, hold on.
Hold it right there.
- [Host] It's like a yoga pose right here.
Praying mantis yoga pose.
What's he doing?
- [Cameraman] Cleaning his little pinchers.
- [Host] Yeah, he's probably-
- [Cameraman] Touched a dirty plant.
- I'm all sweaty.
We just got done filming at the wildlife sanctuary.
And of course, it doesn't take me long
to find a new creature.
Is that where he's licking?
- [Cameraman] Yep.
- [Host] Should I leave him there?
- [Cameraman] Oh, he's gone.
- [Host] Oh, oh there he is.
He's up there.
Hold on, I'll get him again.
- [Cameraman] Careful, Coyote.
- It's a risky little game.
It's a big drop right there.
Got you.
There he is.
And I love how they position their body.
Look at that, he has such incredible balance.
And this is an ambush predator.
And they will lie and wait on a leaf
for an unsuspecting insect to come along,
reach out with those front arms and grab hold.
Look at the spikes on those front arms.
I'll tell ya it hurts, 'cause he just pinched my nose.
But they will grab onto their prey,
hold it, crush it, and then begin to eat it.
Oh!
- [Cameraman] It's on Marty's hand now.
- Ah!
- No, don't take my nose.
- [Cameraman] He's so cool.
He's friendly.
- [Coyote] He's very friendly.
- [Cameraman] He's the most friendly
praying mantis I've ever seen.
- What's up, buddy?
- Well, how 'bout that?
Coming back to the room,
getting ready for a relaxing siesta,
and who do we come across?
The praying mantis.
I'm Coyote Peterson.
Be brave,
stay wild,
we'll see you on the next location.
- [Voiceover] Do you like praying mantises?
If so, make sure to go back
and watch my encounter with the leaf mantis.
And don't forget,
subscribe to join me and the crew
on this season of Breaking Trail.
- Ow!
Oh, he's biting me.
Look at that.
(fire crackling)
(howling)
(birds chirping)