There are certain deals at Costco that last all year. A tasty watermelon is one of those. I don't ask questions about the availability of decent watermelons in February at Costco. I just enjoy it.

The watermelon I bought the other day came with an extra surprise beyond the sweet juicy goodness I look forward to. As I was pushing my cart through the Costco parking lot I noticed something sitting on my watermelon. A praying mantis!

Kama/TSM
Kama/TSM
loading...

Technically, we're supposed to call them "mantids," not "mantis" as that is way too specific for most of us to determine. Either way, this insect is adorable, incredibly designed, and quite the predator.

Retro 102.5 logo
Get our free mobile app

According to my favorite local entomologist at Colorado State University, Whitney Cranshaw, "Mantids are very distinctive insects. All have front legs which are large and well-designed for grasping prey. The segment of the body containing these legs (prothorax) is very elongated as is the overall body form. Mantids also have the ability to easily turn their heads in order to see in all directions and have widely spaced eyes that give them excellent binocular vision."

Kama/TSM
Kama/TSM
loading...

After I noticed the mantid on my watermelon I had to figure out how to save it from the hot, busy Costco parking lot that would surely be a grim outcome. I found the nearest tree and lifted the watermelon to it. The mantid climbed off and immediately started cleaning its foot. It would be hard to convince me that this video I took is not the cutest thing you've seen today. That face! Perhaps it was cleaning off little bits of my watermelon.

The Sweetest Backyard Views of Lake Loveland, Colorado

It must feel like summer camp all the time on Lake Loveland. Here's some of the warmer weather views to make that case.

The Tallest Man-Made Object in Colorado

Republic Plaza in Denver, the tallest building in Colorado, stands at 714 feet. This particular man-made object dwarfs that.

More From Retro 102.5