Quoted from Pinballerchef:I used to see these guys during the summer growing up in DE......it was a $50 fine if you killed one. Not that such a thing could be proven.....but who'd wanna hurt a cool looking buggie such as that!!
I had a mantis in my backyard when I lived in Delaware. Very cool to watch this guy in action. He/she was super slow motion until he attacked it's prey, then faster than you could see when pouncing.
I would check his whereabouts before mowing the lawn so I wouldn't hurt him.