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Prey of the Praying Mantis
I have decided that the Praying Mantis is more bad then good. This summer they have been having there way with the population of the butterflies in the garden but today they left the insect kingdom for prey and entered the bird kingdom. As I was making my normal morning walk through the garden I spotted a Hummingbird in the claws of a Praying Mantis, with him already taking bites of the hummingbird.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melissa Clark - Texas, 8b on
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Oh noooo! That's just awful! I think I've decided they're more bad than good, too!
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Permalink Reply by Randy Anderson zn.5/Il. USA on -
I remember a gardening class that I'd gone to that said sometimes what we consider a beneficial insect really isn't at other times. This is the one they were talking about. They are indiscriminate stalkers in the garden and I never realized the extent 'till today.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Knight on -
randy, this is an amazing photo...The hummer must have been intent on eating and never saw the mantis. That is quite the meal!!! Not something I would want to see in my garden and I love my mantises.....
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Permalink Reply by Randy Anderson zn.5/Il. USA on
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Beth the Humming birds ha been using this Butterfly bush to just sit and rest. There were a number of Praying Mantises in the garden and this Hummingbird was unlucky enough to light by a female. She really didn't eat very much of the Hummingbird before she dropped her. Sometimes they don't even eat the whole body of a butterfly, but most of the time I just find wings when there done. I should have shown this picture in the blog. I couldn't see what the Praying Mantis is eating.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Knight on
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Randy, just a thought but if they are hanging around butterfly bushes or any plants that attract the hummers, maybe you could relocate the mantis to another part of the yard?? I've never seen one on my butterfly bush but if I thought they were there to get a hummer, I would have to get her away from it. I guess they are like the hawks in and around where they get my birds sometimes...I know they have to eat but please not in my backyard!!!
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Permalink Reply by Randy Anderson zn.5/Il. USA on
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Beth my garden is'nt really that big 100x150 and I see the Hummingbirds in every part of it especially this past summer. Next year I will move the Praying Mantises into the country as one of my friends on GS suggested. If I find any egg sacks I will do the same. I should be thankful that I don't have Hawe in the garden that would be even more disheartening for me!
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Permalink Reply by Mary Adams-zone 6a on
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Bad Praying Mantis! They are very indiscriminate in what they eat! But this is incredible!
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Permalink Reply by Randy Anderson zn.5/Il. USA on
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Yes they are very indiscriminate when it comes to lunch and the females are so much larger then the males they can go after larger prey!
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