Bugs and the Loser

Since he was in his early teens, the Complete and Total Loser has had encounters with preying mantises that have had, if he'd ever believed in nonsense, almost mystical aspects. In odd settings (a city in Japan) and at odd times (the low ones) they've landed on his shoulder and looked at him in wary regard. At times, the Loser has thought it's because he'd heard as a child that they are great pest killers and should never be crushed or poisoned and they know this about him.
At age 13, the Loser found one of their egg sacs (they look like spit) and kept it till they hatched, sending many tiny, perfectly formed mantises out into the world.

Here's looking at you, human.