Shedding an old suit!

Ahhhh that must feel better! The first of the three large survivors has molted into (I think) it's next to next to last stage. There are also two smaller ones all happily feasting on the ladybugs and leaving each other alone. With segment count of 8 this looks like a boy bug, while I'm almost sure one of the smaller is a female. I may catch this big guy and release him to my yard to leave the smaller mantids alone.

One thousand ladybugs deployed, though they shipped a week late. I can't find but one of the larger mantids this morning and fear they may have fought each other.