Nature, Photography
The Murderous Praying Mantis
Hummingbirds beware!
Teeming with salvia, milkweed, butterfly bush and other pollinator-friendly plants, our yard is a little refuge for Mother Nature’s creatures. Several years ago, we dedicated it to the bees, birds and butterflies. We’ve even certified it with the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat.
Along with fluttering wings of monarch, swallowtail and painted lady butterflies, and the buzz of our resident hummingbirds, we’ve also fostered many varieties of insects.
Praying Mantises are one type of insect to have flourished in our little microbiome. Named for the seemingly-devotional gesture they make when they fold their front legs in, they appear to be soulful little creatures. But, in reality, they are ambush predators with martial artist-type skills.
They are also amazingly talented at camouflaging themselves. This green one, below, was nearly invisible to me, until I caught its movement…
