It seems praying mantis are turning up everywhere these days. I was so surprised the other day when I saw Mark and Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery's post because not only did they show some beautiful pots from their recent kiln opening, but they also had some great photos of a couple of praying mantis. That same day I was watering my garlic and a praying mantis caught a honeybee and was in the process of eating him. I would never suspect a mantis would eat a honeybee. Today when I watered the garlic the praying mantis was still there. I guess he doesn't have to wonder what's for lunch.
hi Linda- great shot of the praying mantis. We think ours was eating a spider.
ReplyDeleteWe must have had a small hatch of them. I found 4 small ones.
That is a great tile over on the side bar!
Luna month?
wow, great shot... poor little honey bee, they live such a dangerous life. more danger from us than the praying manti
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks about the photo. That's actually a 9 inch stoneware plate with an applied (or sprigged) luna moth. I made it before I ever thought of making tiles. I can't believe you haven't seen a luna moth in North Carolina. We saw them in Arkansas, never here, they are large, almost 5 inches across, lime green moths. Of course they are out after dark. Here is link - they are so beautiful.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actias_luna
There is another large moth with an "eye" in its wing we saw in Arkansas, a Antheraea polyphemus. On that one the eye is very prominant - so much so that once I saw one lying on the ground and jumped back as it looked like a face looking up at me from the ground - a great natural defense against predators. I love the mantis, they will actually look at you with their large compound eyes.
Hi Jim, I felt bad about the honey bee, but that is nature. We have a beekeeper across the highway from us so I don't worry about loosing too many of the bees. I notice the mantis tend to stay in one place day after day if it is good hunting. I once had one in the lavender for over a week - now that I think of it, it was probably hunting bees too since at the time the lavender was blooming. Yes pesticides are bad for bees, I don't use any at all and I notice the bees really like the pollen around here.
Hummm not tasty BUMBLE BEES but the garlic you were watering Now that I could do something with! GRIN
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, I have yet to harvest this garlic. My neighbor gave it to me and it has such beautiful and delicate looking flowers. Sometimes after I water it I can get the fragrance of the garlic wafting on the air currents as I pass by.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great shot. These guys are such good predators.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, thanks, I went out last night to water the chives and she is gone now - perhaps I will see her again to take more photos.
ReplyDelete