Is he on the pavement? maybe he's on a "road trip" lol

Deer...you're confusing your insects! Stick insects are the masquerading tree dwellers and minor pests. Praying mantids hang out anywhere, usually near insect activity.

I see them most often in my flower gardens where they find bees and butterflies easy pickins. They also wait patiently on the bird bath, waiting for bees to come for a drink.

This mantis was on a 6x20 concrete deck off the living room. Not an insect in sight. He was there motionless for around 10 minutes.

I love seeing praying mantis here. They are green and brown and sooooo interesting to watch.

Pretty petals I love seeing praying mantis too they are amazing hunters. I use to run a greenhouse and would always bring in a couple of egg sacks in and by mid winter I would have lots of little mantis all over the place eating the bad guys. I do get upset with them when they sit in my Buddlia and chow down on the butterflies that visit the bush. By the end of the summer there is a beautiful mulch of butterfly wings at the base of the shrub. I have heard they can even catch a small hummingbird but have never seen that happen, thank goodness. They appear to be territorial because I see the same ones in the same place day after day. I cannot imagine what that guy was doing on the deck maybe catching some rays. I like to let them walk up my arm kinda creepy but cool. Someone told me they bite but again thankfully I have never experienced that either.

He's cute! Mine do hide better, lol. I swear I'm going to get bitten one day because it takes me forever to finally notice them where I'm working.