Wife Adopted A Praying Mantis

Discussion in 'Pets & Critters' started by Hal Pollner, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    I didn't realize that a Praying Mantis is a Carnivorous Predator, and will capture and devour a small bird, such as a Hummingbird or Finch.

    Hal
     
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  2. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    One year is the upper level of their lifespan. More common is from four to six months.
     
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  3. Trevalius Guyus

    Trevalius Guyus Veteran Member
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    Definitely my spirit animal. On the way to Durango, a few weeks ago, to look for a new house, i saw two, in two different locations. During an afternoon spent cleaning up the trashed back yard of a house I was renting, about fifty years ago, a mantis landed on my hand. A fly was bothering me. It landed near the mantis, on my hand. In a split second, that fly was mantis food. Amazing. The tattoo is about twenty years old. I got it in Durango. What goes around........
     

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  4. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I was also surprised to learn they'll take lizards and frogs.
    Now I respect them even more...tough little buggers.
     
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  5. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Yeh, I was hoping "natural causes" rather than "death by feline" (unlike my aquarium frog.)
     
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  6. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    That's pretty cool. I've never strongly considered getting a tattoo, but a mantis would sure be at the top of my list. Dragonfly might be tied for first.

    Insects in general are a fascinating class of critter.
    To see these levels of intelligence in such a small package is awe-inspiring.

    When I moved to my country place, I realized how much I missed seeing such a wide variety of critters that were common in the places I was fortunate enough to grow up.
     
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