Franklin, the resident praying mantis, joins The Wild Bunch


by AnnGardner Eubank

Franklin loves spending time napping on his fern and sunbathing in the store’s front window, but his favorite place to hang is in Reese Lawson’s hand or on her shoulder.

The Wild Bunch in Kilmarnock has added a new employee to its roster,  the skilled and talented Franklin, the praying mantis.

Franklin first arrived to town in late July in neighboring Papeterie’s window before making a permanent move to the florist just several hops away. Cindy Naylor, owner of The Wild Bunch, said Franklin has doubled in size in the few months he’s been with them.

According to Reese Lawson, Franklin’s fellow employee and primary caretaker, he has quite the appetite.

“Some days he is a bottomless pit,” she said.

Before 2 p.m. on a recent workday, Franklin had chomped down on a….