A praying mantis hanging out in the bolt guide of the front gate, looking all cute and innocent although don't be fooled: these insects are fearsome predators. I have seen them catch and subdue large hawk moths many times their size, or hanging out on flowers trying to catch bees. The bees are usually pretty alert and smart and don't come close as soon as they see the mantis move.
Those spiky little front legs are fast and sharp and once a mantis has something in its clutches, it starts eating immediately because it isn't venomous so it just sets about eating its prey as fast as possible. Ripping heads off first is something of a myth but yes, they do eat each other if they get half a chance.
There are many egg-cases all over the yard, stuck to walls, razor wire, tree branches. There's even one on my neighbour's ugly garden gnome's butt. A big improvement in appearance if you ask me.
The young mantids have already hatched out of this egg case and I preferred to make the image monochrome
I have praying mantises on the balcony every summer, and small ones.
I, then did not know yet that they were predators, and was very happy, took them in my hands, took pictures (somehow I will set this photo up).
But then I read about them on the Internet ...
I saw a video of how these praying mantises catch and eat the little Calibri bird ... :-(((
After that, I stopped loving these praying mantis and when I find them, I throw them out from the balcony ... I apologize ...
I can totally appreciate why mantises are sometimes used as inspiration for alien creatures in sci-fi films!
=^..^=
I never had the luck to find one 😐
I'm amazed: they are everywhere
Maybe the evil poultry gang ate them all 😅
Probably
This mantis looks very scary. Just like a real monster from horror films and sci-fi movies.
You are funny @nikv :-)
Nice monochrome! Very alien look alike!
Posted using Partiko iOS
I like buying/finding the eggs and putting them next to my peppers and tomato plants, they demolish stink bugs and anything else trying to get to my crops. They do end up eating eachother early on until only a couple are left.
Posted using Partiko Android