Praying Mantis attacks mouse pointer..

[erdnase]

Praying Mantis have always creeped me out a little. They seem to be really efficient predators, and I've been spending a little time searching for interesting footage of them. Here's my finds - I hope you like!


Praying Mantis attacks mouse pointer
http://www.wimp.com/prayingmantis/

Mantis eats hummingbird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0CGkD4mcuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp-6ugJm_II

Mantis eats snake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT0Lyrwyh5E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0kGl...eature=rela...

Mantis kills mouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4enil...eature=rela...


I don't know what it is about them that creeps me out. I'm not afraid of them, or any animal that's not really a danger to me - but there's just something mechanical and eerie about them. I have the utmost respect for them, but I really hope I never meet a giant Praying Mantis during my lifetime

Apparently they make interesting pets too? Has anyone ever kept one? Have you ever seen one in the wild?

Here's the wiki article for all your Mantis educational needs!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_mantis

[croyde]

I was stuck in my Greek hotel room for nearly an hour as there was a Preying Mantis standing in the doorway.

Not as scary as Daddy Long Legs or English House Spiders tho'.

[okgo]

You can buy them off the net.

I had two that I kept in a fish tank, they were awesome, incredible to watch the, stalk an insect/fly.

[Mobile Chicane]

I've seen them in the wild in France. Bright green with green eyes and vicious looking jaws. You wouldn't want a bite from one.

[okgo]

Mobile Chicane said:

I've seen them in the wild in France. Bright green with green eyes and vicious looking jaws. You wouldn't want a bite from one.

Its quite an odd exp when you do, they can draw blood but its nothing too major.

[erdnase]

okgo said:

Its quite an odd exp when you do, they can draw blood but its nothing too major.

Do not want!

[okgo]

in the end I started pitting it against other animals, wasps, hornet even, however it died by overfeeding.

The mantis, will not stop eating when its full, it will eat tll its abdoen bursts!!! Hey ho, only £12

[El Guapo]

The coolest insect there is. I could watch them hunting for hours.

[Dupont666]

coolest fish is one of these...



Similar in name, just a lot more deadly.

[bigTee]

Evil little bds they are.

[adam85]

Dupont666 said:

coolest fish is one of these...



Similar in name, just a lot more deadly.

True indeed, they have been known to destroy fish tank glass if they strike it

[YAD061]

A guy caught one in Saudi whilst I was there and let his pet Camel Spider have a go, Mantis 0 Spider 1, bloody thing sliced it in two

[Dupont666]

adam85 said:

Dupont666 said:

coolest fish is one of these...



Similar in name, just a lot more deadly.

True indeed, they have been known to destroy fish tank glass if they strike it

Aye it can but that is very very rare... Im just waiting for the finishing off of the flat and my tank is ready to pick one up...

[Famous Graham]

I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords...

[Brabus Jord]

My local reptile shop sell them for 8.95 apprently you can keep them on a plant and as long as you feed it every other day they will stay on the plant as they have no need to move.

pretty damn cool!

[havoc]

okgo said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I've seen them in the wild in France. Bright green with green eyes and vicious looking jaws. You wouldn't want a bite from one.

Its quite an odd exp when you do, they can draw blood but its nothing too major.

When I was about 11/12 we were on holiday in France. Walked into the Eurocamp tent to see one clinging to the centre-pole. Me being the curious kid walked up to it (it was at about my eye level), stood looking at it, at which point it jumped off the pole straight onto my shirt!

...cue girly scream and jump backwards, and mantis landing on the floor!

(There was also a larger one (~5-6in long and quite fat) clinging to the outside of the tent...presumably the female waiting for the poor chap to come out of the tent so he could be eaten...he was probably trying to hide in my pocket!

[Nicol@]

Excuse my ignorance but I had no idea that they were nasty creatures.

Here is a picture of one I took on holiday. It did nothing jerky and was happy for me to watch and take photos. I thought it was a lovely little thing.

[LD1Racing]

My old man used to keep one tied to his bush hat when he was in the jungle, used to keep the mozzies/bugs away.

It had one of it's eyes shot off in an ambush, survived for a little while after.

[okgo]

Nicol@ said:

Excuse my ignorance but I had no idea that they were nasty creatures.

Here is a picture of one I took on holiday. It did nothing jerky and was happy for me to watch and take photos. I thought it was a lovely little thing.

They aren't nasty, they are just very very well designed hunters.

[NDA]

They even make it onto a superb album..... It was very subtle at the time too.