My colleague Pia Hallenberg, who didn't encounter these green giants in her native Denmark, told me she saw a praying mantis at the corner of Post and Sprague downtown. It was on a window of the Post Street Ale House but then flew to a nearby tree. "An urban praying mantis?" Pia wondered.

Sure. Here's how you can tell.

City praying mantis: Knows how to deal with panhandlers.

Country praying mantis: Can fix things.

City praying mantis: Doesn't pat his wallet pocket every 30 seconds.

Country praying mantis: Understands that there is no sense in complaining about the weather.

City praying mantis: Thinks that the while-driving cell phone ban is for other insects.

Country praying mantis: Is a proud snob when it comes to pie crust.

City praying mantis: Doesn't always vote for the Republican.

Country praying mantis: Doesn't think "Oh, some of that wood could make for splendid interior design accents" when seeing an old barn.

City praying mantis: Has kids in a soccer league.

Country praying mantis: Knows where food comes from.

City praying mantis: Wishes all the employees well, but won't really miss Cyrus O'Leary's.

Country praying mantis: Actually has good reasons for driving a pickup.