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Hummingbird Garden

Praying Mantis did not get his last meal!!

16 years ago

Yesterday, I walked outside on my big front wrap around deck. At the end of the deck that leads to my driveway I have a hummer feeder hanging. I spotted something on it.

When I got closer, I was in absolute shock, a praying mantis on the feeder, a brown one. That is the very first brown one I have ever seen. I see greens every once in a great while.

Very smart mantis here, knew what to get on to get a meal.

Needless to say he didn't get that meal, nor will he be eating again.

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Comments (4)

sidk
16 years ago
I had always heard that praying mantises were a protected species but I found out recently that there are different species and that the ones that are big enough to kill hummingbirds (4 or 5 inches) don't even belong here. They were imported from China to kill insect pests and now they're killing our birds and butterflies! I still think they're neat but I would probably do away with one that big that I found on my feeder or flowers. A little one I would leave on the feeder to eat the bees and yellowjackets. :)
hummersteve
16 years ago
I dont trust em , one year I also found one on one of my feeders and this year I found one in one of my hummer plants david verity. I removed them far enough away that they wouldnt bother my hummers. Im a little more concerned with some neighborhood cats that patrol the area.
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Beware the praying mantis!!
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Comments (38)
A friend of mine restored and maintains a prairie. Last night he did a presentation at a natural history meeting about Monarch butterflies, at which he showed a whole tray of recently dismembered butterfly wings due to Chinese mantis predation, mainly Monarchs. Monarchs have to migrate thousands of miles and along the way face numerous perils. With Monarchs and other butterflies in steep decline, my friend strongly feels import and sales of Chinese mantises should be banned. These mantises are not part of nature any more than your cat or dog. Chinese mantises are invasive non-native insects that not only kill butterflies, but also our smaller, less aggressive native mantises, and hummingbirds, too. There is no reason to spare Chinese mantises in your garden or yard. Hopefully one day sale and import of these aggressive predators will be banned. In the meantime, do our native butterflies and other creatures a favor and please exterminate any Chinese mantises you find.
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Comments (37)
evan1 - you were spot on! I've seen quite a few "babies" this year, about an inch long so far. I have no idea why they like what we have planted and am happy to see them here but, as mentioned in a previous posting, don't think I would be as keen if I had seen one killing a hummer. The plants I have seen them on are roses, bronze fennel and feverfew but I think this is probably because these are in close proximity to each other rather than choice. Also have spotted some on the petunias. Mind you, a couple were in the kitchen and had to scoot them out, they may look at you with a knowing eye but they are still insects! Sorry, I have no idea how you might get egg sacs in Ont., given my experiences crossing the border it is difficult enough getting your luggage across let alone insect eggs, but good luck.
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Comments (3)
I love praying mantis. Years ago when I was in Tyler for their rose festival, I was photographing some of the roses at the Tyler Rose Gardens. I took one with a praying mantis eating a honeybee. It isn't as good as yours, but how many times do you get to see a praying mantis eating - a bee of all things too! I'll look for that and post it if I can find it on one of my photo cd's. Oh, and I like your blown glass flower. Not sure how many insects that praying mantis will get there, but he will eventually figure out he should be on a real flower. It makes a good picture though!
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Comments (10)
Funny story, when my daughter was nine she brought a cocoon from the woods which appeared to be dried up and wanted it in her bedroom. Fast forward and one early morning I hear a blood curdling scream coming from her room. I go in the room and there are dozens and dozens of baby praying mantis's all over the walls etc and she's under the cover. I call a garden center and they said "get her out of the room" and close the door and they will eat each other. YIKES!!!!!!!! so I did as she said and gently opened the door in the afternoon and there they were about three left and apparently very full. I got them outdoors, threw the cocoon in the woods and scoured the room. Fun day. lol
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bdriver71
16 years ago
I found 3 this month, all over 4 inches and close to my feeders. One was on a rose bush, 6 inches away. I took them a few miles away to a wooded area, with no feeders in sight. Wasn't sure how far away was safe? Also didn't want them near anyone elses feeders.
lovefornature
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry it took me so long to post a reply being the OP. Cut my finger on a power saw.

This mantis was big. I was shocked to see him on my feeder! I knew that if I moved him gently to another part of the yard he would probably come back to the feeder. I do not get bees or ants on my feeders.

I would not normally do away with one of these unique creatures, I find them fascinating and a rarity to see around here, but not on my hummingbird feeders.

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