Praying Mantis on Hummingbird Feeder
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
Nashville, Tennessee
September 16, 2020 1:51pm CST
Was out snapping photos of the bluebirds and saw this praying mantis hanging out on the hummingbird feeder.
Try to sneak up on a praying mantis, and you may be surprised when it looks over its shoulder at you. No other insect can do this. Praying mantids have a flexible joint between the head and prothorax that allows them to swivel their heads.
Amazing to learn about nature. These little insects are very interesting to watch. They also have two eyes but only one ear. Sharing more of the little things.
20 people like this
20 responses
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Sep 20
This is so interesting, I wonder why they only have one ear! I love learning about these things, thank you Carol:)
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Sep 20
@CarolDM Some days, Jay has no ears! LOL Is he secretly a praying mantis?
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
17 Sep 20
i read that such flew off, thank the heavens! the hummers here're keen to come fetch me if'n one 'tis e'en near their feeders. they'll come to the windows if'n i'm 'ndoors 'n peck'n the glass whilst hoverin'. if'n i'm outdoors, they'll e'en go out 'nto the pasture to tattle. fer good reason.
yepperz, they'll turn 'round'n give ya the evil stink eye fer certain. get really ticked when ya try to remove 'em from a feeder. i've been shredded by 'em'n the past. my arms looked's though i'd been'n a cat fight 'r wandered throu blackberry bushes.
they'll e'en hang out'n my vines, waitin' fer a meal - e'en a hummer.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
17 Sep 20
@CarolDM yes ma'am, they know where to go fer protection most oft. sadly the ferals'll hide'n the trumpet vines'n snag one....makes me furious 'n very sad.
those mantis 're somethin'!
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@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
17 Sep 20
@crazyhorseladycx Nature is something else.
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@LindaOHio (178864)
• United States
17 Sep 20
Great capture! That's a rare sighting.
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@LindaOHio (178864)
• United States
18 Sep 20
@CarolDM I read about that. Did NOT know that was possible that they could attack hummers.
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@wolfgirl569 (106505)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Sep 20
Good photo. They are interesting bugs.
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@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
17 Sep 20
I would freeze in panic, if a mantis was on me.
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@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
17 Sep 20
This kind of insect is unique for having one ear but have 5 eyes. Two regular eyes and 3 simple eyes.
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@snowy22315 (180972)
• United States
16 Sep 20
They aren't as common as they used to be. I haven't seen one for several years now.
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@FourWalls (68155)
• United States
16 Sep 20
They can swivel their heads to bite off their mate’s.
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