Does anyone know why a Praying Mantis would sit on a window screen for two days without seeming to eat as the weather gets colder?

Could be it’s responding to the changing day length and temperatures and it’s getting ready to go into hibernation for the winter. Or it could be ready for death. Hard to know. Or it could be a male that got laid and the female didn’t want any head and he’s terminally depressed. I would be.

Bugs slow down in the cold. The temperature of their small bodies with high surface area to volume ratio quickly tracks changes in the ambient temperature. Most cellular metabolism is temperature-dependent. Put the mantis in a jar inside your house & see if it perks up. Wikipedia says non-tropical mantises die during the winter, so maybe this critter should really be saying its prayers!

@Adirondackwannabe Love your last guess. LOL
@gasman I would but the upper window doesn’t doesn’t come down and the screen is in so tight that if I pop it out it will probably fling out and squish the creature. Maybe he is saying one long good-bye.
Oh, maybe he sees his reflection in the window and is waiting to see who will strike first. Hmm!

Yep, he’s leaving the earth soon.

Well its day 5. I notice he moves more when the day is warm. He did go away for a few hours but is back again. Just weird.

The window screen must be keeping him warm & safe. I suspect he’ll stay there until he dies.