Praying Mantis

After mating,
a female praying mantis
kills and eats the male by
first biting off his head.
Guess she knows it's easier
to claim life insurance
rather than child support.
...anonymous

I think this guy is missing one antenna?!? I saved him/her from Katniss on our patio by putting him/her in a tree that Katniss doesn't climb. I have always had a soft spot for these creatures. Then I saw when they grow to 6 inches in length, they can capture a hummingbird, mouse, fish, lizard or snake and eat them! Yikes! Maybe I will keep my distance and rescue my dog and cat if I see one that big! Poor hummingbirds. :(

Nice on black.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aSCPmabRpM

http://www.audubon.org/news/praying-mantis-vs-hummingbird

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=praying+mantis+vs.+snake&qs=PF&cvid=8552c37f9d2645749c168fd20d77cff4&cc=US&setlang=en-US&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dpraying%2bmantis%2bvs.%2bsnake%26form%3dEDGTCT%26qs%3dPF%26cvid%3d8552c37f9d2645749c168fd20d77cff4%26cc%3dUS%26setlang%3den-US&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=7728A56132FD504A91977728A56132FD504A9197&FORM=WRVORC

[Photo Bird]

Beautifully sharp

[tony gig]

Brilliant capture...fav

[Suzanne]

Blimey, I didn't know it would go after those

[Peter Dulis]

Lovely ... fav

[Diana]

A good save and fabulous close up!

[Alex G.]

Life can be cruel. Well spotted and in a nice clear position too. Well done.

[Christopher Cox]

well spotted

[Karly]

He is very nice on black! Thanks for the info about preying mantis. We don't have them so I found it very interesting. Gotta feel sorry for the guys!

[gloria jones]

Wow...great find and capture...nice details

[carol white]

Fabulous close up capture. Fav!! 😀

[Jennifer]

super capture! Lol at your comment!!!! fav

[Claude Trew]

Great macro and comments. Fav

[Carole Sandford]

Excellent capture, great focus & detail!

[FBailey]

Super sharp details and a fav for making me laugh!

[Shepherdman's Wife]

Great capture

[CC Folk]

A BIG thank you one and all. I do not have a fancy camera or macro lens so I was pretty pleased with the photo. I appreciate your time to leave me comments and the favs. I didn't know that praying mantis can attack all that they do!

@carole_sandford @claudiet @carolmw @seattlite @christophercox @ludwigsdiana @suzanne234 @tonygig @photobird

[CC Folk]

It was hard to find a saying about the praying mantis so I am glad you got a laugh out of what I chose! Thank you so much! :)
@fbailey @jesperani

[CC Folk]

Thank you so much Peter! Your Utah photos have been outstanding and now I want to go see it for myself...added to my bucket list! @pdulis

[CC Folk]

Thank you very much for stopping by to comment on my project. Your photos are brilliant! @shepherdmanswife

[CC Folk]

Many thanks for commenting on my project. I enjoy the added info for learning something new. I added more videos to this photo. Yes, I do feel bad for the mating male but also the poor hummingbirds too! @365karly1

[CC Folk]

Yes, life can be cruel. I don't like that part about nature. I can not watch nature programs on the food chain...makes me cry. And...I guess it is hard to keep a female mantis happy! :) @alex_g

[Casablanca]

Wow, what a dramatic creature up close! Lovely.

[wendy frost]

A great capture and interesting information and strange behaviour .

[Sandy Z W]

YIKES but nice pic

[*lynn]

wonderful clear capture, and great info!

[KWind]

Cool creature! Love the green!

[photogq]

green is great
you have nice detail on this guy.

[Jenfurj]

Wow, fantastic image.

[Wendy]

This is a great shot with awesome DoF and fantastic focus. Really well done!

[Catherine P]

Well spotted! Really good macro

[Pyrrhula]

A great micro with beautiful details.

David Gerrold Quotes
Life is hard. Then you die.
Then they throw dirt in your face.
Then the worms eat you.
Be grateful it happens in that order.

[CC Folk]

Its funny when you think about it...what a way to be treated! Think I will go for cremation and tossed into the sea...it's faster! :) @pyrrhula

[Margaret Brown]

Great macro image!

[Michelle]

Lovely capture 😊

[Lisa Pouncy]

Amazing close up xx

[Islandgirl]

Wow awesome detail!

[Dinah Pinkston]

Nice capture ...It looks like he would be a bit hard to spot!

[Denise (lyndemc)]

Great close-up of this intriguing insect. I've had a number of them hanging out the house this summer — fun to watch them. Not nice to know that they can take down a hummingbird though.

Thanks for the sweet comment and big ol' fav on my "Forest Light" photograph. I really appreciate your visit to my project.

[JanM]

Hi! New follower. Just rejoined 365 after an abrupt early end to my first project. This year focusing on my garden. Love your outlook and photos. Looking forward to following :).

[lisa]

I love these. great shot!

[CC Folk]

Thank you, Jan. So sweet of you to say such kind things regarding my project. I truly appreciate it. I am out of town on vacation going non stop without a computer but I will start posting again as soon as I can! Thank you for the follow! I am honored.

[CC Folk]

@janm Silly me! See above comment! Lol!

[CC Folk]

@janm Thanks again, Jan! I am back from vacation and all caught up now on my project!