i prefer the real thing...especially Tessellated Phasmatids
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_hoppers/tessulata.htm
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_hoppers/StickInsect.htm
http://www.phasmatodea.org/
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/stick.html
here are some praying mantis pages
i have two egg cases which i found in my garden...and I am
watching to see if i can observe them hatching!
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2154.html
http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub/mantids.html
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/mantids/praying/
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_hoppers/Mantids.htm