Most insects are short-lived. I can immortalize them here.
Even though they cannot comprehend how beloved they are.
Lego
Rhombodera sp. 2024-2025
My first mantis. she lived about 15 months and laid 3 infertile ooths. she had such a curious and intelligent nature, and remains probably the most handling-tolerant of any mantis I've had. caring for her did really cement for me how complex, even without the same capacity for emotion as intensely as vertebrates, insects truly are as individuals. I knew she was comfortable in my presence. they have body language that can be learned to be read like any other.
Garlic
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi 2024
My second mantis. she lived around 7 months and was much more reserved than Lego. she still occassionally accepted to crawl out of her tank at times, a bit more often late in her life. she always sort of came off as having an impish nature & was cute.
Oat
Ceuthophilus sp. 2024-2025
Found him in the basement as a tiny nymph. I'm pretty sure he's a nonnative species here but there were wolf spiders living in the basement as well around the time he showed up so it felt bad to leave him there. he was very timid and sensitive, as cave crickets are. there were a few times where he'd inspect me with his antennae and crawl up for a second.