Really BUGS Me!!!

[brewmaster15]

Came across this one today ... abit late in the year for mantids..but a photo op none-the less. Mantids are some of my favorite creepy crawlies..

-al

[brewmaster15]

.....

[brewmaster15]

last ones...

[jball1125]

Nice pics Al.

Mantids are very cool.

[vera]

Nice shots Al! more !!!!LOL

[Jennie]

those are really beneficial to have around, well, so are snakes too and hard to say but spiders...though I will kill a spider in a heartbeat..

[Disgirl]

Great pictures Al! Tell the folks how the mating process goes with Praying Mantis'. If you don't know I will tell them
Barb

[wadewc]

Nice pics AL! I use to spend alot of time watching them feed. Snatch and munch.

Okay Barb I have been thinking how do they mate? Just curious. Like a black widow eat there mate?

Wade

[Second Hand Pat]

Those are great pictures Al. Your mantis looks to be the same size of some I find in the summer. These are colored to blend with the bark of the oak. Very cool looking.

[Jennie]

Wade, the female mantis, when done with the male, bites the head off the male! smiley purposely intended

[Disgirl]

Yep, she sure does! And the male is much smaller than the female. Poor little fellas.
Barb

[wadewc]

Thanks Ladies! I figured it was going to be something like that.

Kinda reminds me of my first wife.

Wade

[Jennie]

ooops! LOL, Not much is known about the mysterious creature that reminds me of my ex!

[brewmaster15]

Lol !!!. Thanks for the pic comments everyone. Yes Mantis females do eat their male counter parts after mating much like spiders... But it is not a definite...sometimes the males make it away and can mate with more females....Nature is wise...waste not...want not....The death of the male insures the female has enough food and resources to lay her eggs. All is not peaches and cream though for the female.. Female mantids die after laying their eggs and become food for other animals. Males that survive breeding usually die with in weeks anyway.

On another note... ...The mating can last a long time...as in over 24 hours.! So if the male does get eaten...he probably does so happy and with a smile on his face. maybe that praying pose is as a thank you to the powers that be. additionally The longer the mating goes on, The male may actually be fulfilling his genetic mandate of passing on the most genes compared to other male mantids as it risks its life.
Gotta love evolution!!

-al

[Disgirl]

Very interesting Al! Thanks for the additional facts I didn't know. I saw a tiny PM this summer, must have been 1/2" long, looked just like the mom and so very cute!!
Barb