Praying Mantis - 1 -- Humming Bird - 0

[Marc]

I knew Praying Mantis were nasty mean, but who'd have thought? From Birdwatcher's Digest

The hummer measured 2 inches and the mantis was about the same! The mantis used its spiny left foreleg to impale the hummingbird through the chest while leaving his right leg free.

We surmised that the mantis ran the hummer through and dangled its full weight on its foreleg while he consumed the flesh of the hummingbird from the abdomen. After he had his fill, the mantis gave his foreleg several swift jerks and freed his leg.

 

[Cari Spears]

Eewwww!

 

[Wes Bucey]

I've seen similar things on Animal Planet cable channel. Saw big frogs eating birds on shore of a pond, saw big spiders (wolf-type, jumping ones) also capture and eat birds. Those were normal occurrences. I have to believe the praying mantis/humming bird was an unusual opportunity for a critter that normally captures butterflies.

 

[Jim Wynne]

I have to believe the praying mantis/humming bird was an unusual opportunity for a critter that normally captures butterflies.

From what I can tell it's a rather rare occurrence. Both of the species in question have wonderfully adapted survival features; the mantis with its camouflage and the hummingbird with its size, hovering ability and beak. It's unusual to find a mantis near a hummingbird feeder 9 or where hummingbirds feed in on their own) because they're usually brightly-colored in order to attract the birds. The same stimulus that attracts hummingbirds is likely to discourage mantises. In general, hummingbirds are in no danger from mantises for this reason.

 

[db]

In general, hummingbirds are in no danger from mantises for this reason.

Tell that to the one in the picture!

 

[Jim Wynne]

Tell that to the one in the picture!

My grandfather had a deathly and irrational fear of snakes. Once when a friend caught a garter snake in his backyard and brought it over to show to him, my grandfather slammed the door in the neighbor's face and hollered through the door for the neighbor to get that *&$%# thing away from him. Later, after the neighbor had set the snake loose, he went back over and told my grandfather that he had no need to be scared because the snake was harmless, and couldn't bite him if it wanted to. My grandfather replied, "He don't have to bite me if he can scare me to death."

 

[ddunn]

My wife suffers for the same fear of snakes. When we moved to Tallahassee I surveyed the neighbors about the snake population. I was assured that snakes were very seldom seen in the area. Since we moved in (8 months ago) we have seen 9 snakes in our yard and found out 3 of our neighbors raise snakes in there garages.

We are looking for a new house. And honest neighbors.

 

[Wes Bucey]

My wife suffers for the same fear of snakes. When we moved to Tallahassee I surveyed the neighbors about the snake population. I was assured that snakes were very seldom seen in the area. Since we moved in (8 months ago) we have seen 9 snakes in our yard and found out 3 of our neighbors raise snakes in there garages.

We are looking for a new house. And honest neighbors.

Just curious - do they actually RAISE them or merely allow them to live?

Raising predicates glass cages with tops (aquaria) and feeding and selling. It can be a big operation. I once had a neighbor who bred tropical fish in his garage - over 200 tanks, air compressors, vet supplies, etc. and netted really big money.

On the other hand, I ALLOW mice, voles, snakes, toads, chipmunks, etc. to live and reproduce in my yard and under my shed because I and my grandchildren get a kick out of watching and learning about them.

Tallahassee does have at least two poisonous snakes, coral and water mocassin, plus possible rattlesnakes - definitely something to be alert for.

Bottom line:
sometimes FEAR is well-founded!

 

[Tim Folkerts]

When I was young, my brothers & I used to catch garter snakes in the fields near our neighborhood. Once we got the idea of buiding a cage to so that we could keep them for more than a few minutes. We got some plywood for the frame and a wire screen on the front that was spaced closely enough to keep the snakes in, but let the air through. We kept the cage on the floor in our room and usually let the snakes go after a few days when we got tired of tring to find something for them to eat.

Well, one day - unbeknownst to us - we caught a pregnant snake. Garter snakes give birth to live young, so one morning a few days after we caught this snake, we woke up to find a few dozen 3" long baby snakes. All over the house! It turns out they were easily small enough to slip through the screen and under the door.

Mom wasn't amused.


Tim F

 

[ddunn]

Just curious - do they actually RAISE them or merely allow them to live?

Raising predicates glass cages with tops (aquaria) and feeding and selling. It can be a big operation. I once had a neighbor who bred tropical fish in his garage - over 200 tanks, air compressors, vet supplies, etc. and netted really big money.

On the other hand, I ALLOW mice, voles, snakes, toads, chipmunks, etc. to live and reproduce in my yard and under my shed because I and my grandchildren get a kick out of watching and learning about them.

Tallahassee does have at least two poisonous snakes, coral and water mocassin, plus possible rattlesnakes - definitely something to be alert for.

Bottom line:
sometimes FEAR is well-founded!

Tallahassee has much more than types two poisonous snakes and yes we do have rattlesnakes. That was one of the nine we saw in our yard.

And yes our neighbors raise the snakes on purpose.