I was out in the back yard checking on my tomatoes yesterday when I spotted a praying mantis and went to grab the camera.
I noticed what I thought to be a grasshopper clinging to her back and tried to remove it with a blade of grass. That didn't work so I continued snapping pictures.
The mantis maneuvered around the grasses and plant stems and finally got to the fence, where she continued to climb. When I got the photos uploaded to my computer I discovered, to my embarrassment, that the passenger was . . . er . . . rather firmly attached and that the twosome apparently had been caught
in flagrante delicto.
All I can say by apology is "Oops!" Sorry, I'm a city boy.
I noticed what I thought to be a grasshopper clinging to her back and tried to remove it with a blade of grass. That didn't work so I continued snapping pictures.
The mantis maneuvered around the grasses and plant stems and finally got to the fence, where she continued to climb. When I got the photos uploaded to my computer I discovered, to my embarrassment, that the passenger was . . . er . . . rather firmly attached and that the twosome apparently had been caught in flagrante delicto.
All I can say by apology is "Oops!" Sorry, I'm a city boy.
Hello bug lovers wherever you are...
ReplyDelete(so what exactly is the sexy green guy?)
Based on the legs (you can gigantisize the pictures by clicking on them) I believe it's a male mantis.
ReplyDeleteSo did this male actually manage to get away? The females often eat the poor guys after (or sometimes during) the act.
ReplyDeleteMy god! I don't know. Once I discovered what they were up to, I left them to their privacy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the male and female mantis looked so different but then maybe I've never seen a male because they become dinner for the female once she has her way with him. Now, that would have been an interesting picture....no?
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that myself. But Googling for more information, I ran across the information that the female can BITE THE HEAD OFF the male while he is. . . uh . . . doing his thing. Not only that but that apparently increases the sperm transfer. Now I'm sure that's more than any of you (or me) wanted to know.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have changed the "him" references to "her" in the original text. Not only did I not know what was going on but I apparently didn't know how to describe it!
the pictures are very interesting, but your last comment about the potential killer instinct makes me wonder what would make her decide for or against biting his head off? Performance?
ReplyDeleteInsect porn! Wow. You really caught some action. Aren't high resolution photos fun?!
ReplyDeleteGoddess - (and, by the way, that is a GREAT photo!) From what I read via the Google, that would seem to be the case.
ReplyDeleteJP - Amazing what's out there if you can think to look for it!
It looks like his head is already off...
ReplyDeleteGreat shots!
ReplyDeleteMaybe she bites his head off because he isn't ummmm... up to par? ;-)
Mike - Yes, I think he's been decapitated. Just lost his head over her, I guess.
ReplyDeleteDawn - Why do you girls always have to blame us guys???
I've never seen a white mantis... that's odd...
ReplyDeletejust wait til the kiddies come out though! haha
Caught right here, a new species!!
Imagine! :)
Kay - The white (or sandy colored) ones are most common here in Arizona. Maybe the sun bleaches them!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Even with the missing head, he's doing his thing.
ReplyDeleteGreat title. I would guess that your praying mantis are light colored due to natural selection. They blend in better in AZ.
ReplyDeleteApparently it doesn't matter with the males because they're um...meant to be eaten?
I would say he definitely lost his head. I hope he felt it was worth it!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photography Cat!