thanks jmac
for anyone who is wondering. i use a Canaon Powershot SD600. its got some great macro functions and is such an easy camera to use!
we have 2 mantids in KY (as far as i know...) the Chinese Mantis and...some other full green one, the Carolina Mantis i believe. both can get quite large and the largest i have seen was one of the Chinese Mantis at about 6 inches!!
Alex