Attack of the praying mantis

Faulkner

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As many of you know I try to keep a camera handy when outdoors because many times I've seen situations where I said, man I wish I had a camera with me.

Case in point was this morning, I was sitting out on the deck very early watching Mrs. Faulkner's hummingbirds. As it's nearing time for their migration south we're seeing about 50% of what was hanging around a week or so back, but there are still 20+ feeding from her feeders this morning. I also noted a spotted fawn in the back yard and was watching it when I thought "I better step in and get my camera just in case Bigfoot pops out or something."

I went and fetched my Nikon DSLR camera which happened to already have a 100-600mm zoom lens attached and went back out on the deck and started shooting some pictures of the hummingbirds as the landed in a crepe myrtle tree to perch after they'd visited the feeders. Quite by accident, I spotted a praying mantis in the crepe myrtle and decided that I'd take a picture or two of it.

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My monopod was attached to my big lens so I extended it out and then leaned up against the deck railing for stability to get a clean, focused shot of the praying mantis. As I focused in on the praying mantis, low and behold, a ruby-throated hummingbird landed in the "V" of the limb within my viewfinder. I quickly backed off the zoom just a bit to get a wider view and as I put my finger on the shutter button the praying mantis attacked. It was very quick and I missed the initial strike, but I was able to get a couple of quick shots as the hummingbird fended off the attack and flew off unscathed.

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A few moments later I was able to capture these two female hummingbirds as they fussed over something in the crepe myrtle tree. The hummingbirds always seem to be fussing about something, whether it's chasing each other off the feeders or chasing each other around the house to feeders on the front porch. Even as they perch on their favorite limb on the crepe myrtle tree another zooms in and wants the spot for themselves.


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Beautiful photography!

Here in southern Colorado we see the Rufus hummingbirds much of the spring and late summer. They are very competitive, even combative with each other. Beautiful little critters, but obviously products of a pretty brutal wild world.

Sat on my patio several evenings ago through dusk. Watched a preying mantis hunting among my tomato and pepper plants. Very interesting to observe, stealthy and relentless.
 
Great pics Faulkner! I was expecting you to write the bird attacked the bug.

My MIL who lives with us now has become an HB whisperer. She sits very still among the potted flowers on the porch, and will have HB's hover inches from her face. Their visits make her deliriously happy. :)
 
Faulkner, I am impressed that you captured the praying mantis attack on camera. That is just plain cool.
 
I'm trying to think of how long it would take if you were trying to get that shot. Nice work.
 
Great pictures. Praying mantis' are tough! There was a big ol' gal on my garage door Saturday when I was mowing the yard, and I didn't want her to get inside when I raised the door. I banged on the door about a foot from her, but all that got me was an evil look. Then I took the leaf blower to her, but I had to get fairly close before she'd let go, and even then she only went a few feet away to the side of the house. Good enough.
 
Ever since Miss Pam found out they kill and eat humming birds she has had me on a mission: KILL 'EM...KILL 'EM ALL!! She don't 'llow nuttin' messin' wit her hummies... I been dispatchin' 1 or more daily for several days.

When you are overrun with other bugs the mantis didn't eat, are you going to explain to Miss Pam why?:D
 
Do praying mantises sometimes succeed in killing humming birds? If so, do they actually eat the bird?

Do praying mantises attack humming birds because they think humming birds are insects, or do they attack other small/baby birds as well?
 
Do praying mantises sometimes succeed in killing humming birds? If so, do they actually eat the bird?

Do praying mantises attack humming birds because they think humming birds are insects, or do they attack other small/baby birds as well?

From PRAYING-MANTIS.org

Praying mantis predominantly feed on crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, (monarch) butterflies, beetles, and occasionally other praying mantises. They are tough predators and are known to consume hummingbirds. Hummingbirds mostly fall trap to mantis when they come to the sugar water to drink.
 
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