Hello! I'm deathly afraid of Praying Mantises, and I noticed that these aren't on your list for insect phobias. When I hear the word I start wimpering, if I see one, I'll either try and hit it with a heavy object or throw somethign at it and hope it dies. I scream loudly (which, when faced with one at school, caused the teachers to run in case I was being attacked. I still think I was.) When I leave school, I'm going to find a way to rid the world of these horrible evil insects. I hope you put this on your list, I know a few people who hate them almost as much as me!!
I have a very serious fear of praying mantis’. Everytime I see one I feel as though I’m going to pass out, can’t breathe, starting screaming "is there one on me" etc. Pretty much panic-attack type reaction. I think it began when I was approximately four years old. There was a huge one on my grandparents front door. I needed to go inside to use the bathroom but was so scared of it I ended up soiling myself. This phobia also makes me not touch plants and leafy things because mantids look so much like leaves. It also scares me cause they're very unpredictable, as far as their movements. They get around too fast for my liking. Last summer there was a big one in our Jeep. Right on top of my nieces booster seat. I freaked out. I had to get a long broom and flick it out... I eventually got it into a ice cream tub with a lid. Put it in back of the Jeep and drove it a mile to my parents house. All the while stopping now and then to check to make sure it didn't get out of the lid/tub. I have no idea if there is a name for this phobia.. but my husband thinks i'm completely ridiculous, and I understand they're harmless but I just can't help it. Anytime I feel something blow into me from the wind... like a leaf or something I freak out.. and get the same panic reaction as if it really is a mantid.
