Praying Mantis?!

Praying Mantis?

My friends 1 yr old daughter was walkin outside and stepped on a praying mantis it stratched her foot up and left a blood dot.I thought this was very strange she said the prayin mantis latched onto the babys foot.she said now the babys foot is hot and getting swollen they ended up killin the insect illoked it up and found out that they do bite and in rare cases allergic reactions.Shes takin the baby to the doctor right now.anyways the point is anyone ever had this happen b4 or heard of it?any answers appreciated

1 month ago
If I was there i wouldnt have killed it i think shes reatrded for killing the praying mantis.I yelled at her

I have spent decades working/playing with mantids. Although I have only been bit once, I can sympathize to an extent. Mantids do not carry any kind of venom. However, like nearly any animal, they do have saliva. People often forget that it is the saliva of insects (mosquitoes, fleas, damsel bugs, etc) that cause the bumps and allergic reactions, not the 'bite' itself. Insects, like humans, secrete saliva to aid in digestion of their meal. Our bodies naturally counteract this venom, but in varying degrees. Having said that, it is possible that the child is having an allergic reaction to being bitten. If the insect actually didnt bite her and simply grabbed a hold of her with its front legs, my guess is that she may have gotten a bacterial infection in the open wound. Either way, it is a good idea to take one so young to the doc as it will uncover potential allergies as well as take care of a vulnerable immune system.