BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird

Subject: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Annie
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 12:08 AM

Have you ever witnessed such a surprising event in nature? I have it on good authority that said praying mantis was seen hanging on the feeder and when the hummingbird came in close.......the PM whacked off it's little head in one slash. Then descended to the ground to feed upon it. Well, I never!

Annie

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 12:14 AM

No,not really....I mean, come on here.....I'm dumb but not that dumb.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: mack/misophist
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 12:41 AM

I don't think your authority is as good as you imagine. Matching the largest mantis I've ever seen against the smallest humming bird.... No.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 12:59 AM

And they don't even whack of bugs' heads, just grab them (and don't let them drop anywhere). Like a 6-legged kid with a flying cheeseburger. I think somebody's pulling your leg.

I've picked up the little guys (mantis) plenty of times, and if they could decapitate a teeny bird, or even get a good grip on one, they would have at least pinched a finger. I saw one in Texas once that was over 4" long. I didn't really want to pick that one up, even if he didn't look like he'd missed a meal in a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:07 AM

They do seem like critters unlikely to encounter each other, and as eerie is it is to see the Mantids move their heads and look at you, and knowing that they can jump and do fly, I can't picture one eating a hummingbird.

What's your source of information?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Peace
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:11 AM

Fellow was jumpin' up and down on a sewer lid shouting, "Forty-three, forty-three." Guy asked what he was doin'. He lifted the lid and told the guy to look. The guy did. The fellow pushed him in, replaced the lid and jumped on it shouting, "Forty-four, forty-four."

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:21 PM

Story here

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: pdq
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:41 PM

A praying mantis will grasp it's prey with it's front legs using spines provided by nature for that purpose.

It will eat the head of it's victim immediately. This makes especially good sense if the mantid has caught a wasp.

No mantid in the U.S. is large enough nor hummingbird small enough for this story to be credible. Did you get it from Dan Rather?

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Peace
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:48 PM

. . . an then again . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: MMario
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:57 PM

it's the "whacked off the head in one slash" that I find hard to believe.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 10:21 PM

Ounce fir ounce, the humminigbird is thre mosr ferocious animal on earth, bar none...

You ever watch 'um? They is quick and they got an attitude...

The story should read, "Humming Bird Mauls Praying Mantis, Details at 11..."

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:01 AM

Dopes. Don't you know that any creature that prays like that is DANGEROUS!?!?!?! Ask any 7 out of 9 Mudcatters! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Annie
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:37 AM

Kim C I am so grateful you corroborated with the story link!

I believed it because nobody could make something like that up.

Live and learn you doubters.

Annie

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 09:47 AM

My problem was with the head-whacking. I doubted the grabbing, too, but maybe I forgot just how small hummingbirds really are. I've occasionally mistaken them for really large bees.

WYS, if your prayer chain is praying for prey, I am SO gonna get myself a mojo! (Not that I believe I've pissed any of those folks off, but you never know.)

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:14 AM

Ah, but Jeri, you already have Major Mojo!

There are actually people who think we are a preyer chain, you know, "Oh Lord please help xxx with problem zzzzzz, and while Yer at it-- open their heart and stab them with repentance and SAVE them, Lord, SAVE them...."

Hey! I just realized--- Are praying mantises allowed in SCHOOLS?????

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:14 AM

there's a DURN good reason why they spell 'prey' and 'pray' differently...*grin*....but in the case of the Mantis, the "praying for prey" appelation fits!

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: John Hardly
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:34 AM

I....TOLD......YOU........TO......QUIT.........[B][I]HUMMING!!!!!!!!![/I][/B]

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: John Hardly
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:35 AM

damn code.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:38 AM

I....TOLD......YOU........TO......QUIT.........HUMMING!!!!!!!!!

Gotta use these guys here: < and >

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: John Hardly
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:51 AM

thanks susan (just forgot which forum I was posting to...or to which forum I was posting, were my prepositions not to end my sentences. When a man is released from prison at the end of his sentence he of course receives a suit of clothing, not a preposition. It is from that custom that we derive the grammar rule.)

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 11:20 AM

John...... ?????????

But yer welcome!

Oh--- I got it!! LOL!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: MaineDog
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 11:33 AM

In Maine we have rather large hummingbirds. These are thought to be Maine State Birds (Mosquitoes, to those from Away) -- who have repented.

MD

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:05 PM

I gave up trying to post this last night as Mudcat blinked in and out:

The photos are pretty convincing, though considering the speed of a hummingbird's wings and even taking into account the shutter speed and aperture on a bright day, it seems like there should be some blur or distortion (instead of a stop-action shot) around the bird if it was indeed flapping its wings, as the article says."This photo is just as I found it after hearing the hummer`s wings a buzzing from about 15 foot away." The bird may have died or stopped fighting between when it was heard and before the photos were taken. Or the photographer may have heard a different hummer. The bird is in the same stiff position in both photos. If we take away the bit about the bird wings making a sound and the torn throat that isn't in the photograph, then this could be a simple scavenger story, of a mantis finding a deceased bird and eating it in his favorite goldenrod stand, and a photographer with an imagination. Maybe the dying bird expired on that flower and the mantis found it. I'm not saying I don't believe the original account, I'm saying the photo is lacking a couple of clues to document the story the way it is told.

Food for thought, anyway.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:22 PM

My opinion is, yes, this could happen. Mantids sometimes grow quite large, and the fully grown female ones have a very strong grip (I remember this from direct experience when I was a kid...you can handle typical small mantids and they can't do a thing about it...but a really big one is a different story!) A very large female mantid could definitely kill a small hummingbird, and it would be a matter of a split second if the mantid decided to attack...they're extremely fast. They normally grab in such a way as to completely immobilize their prey (important in the case of wasps and such) and then they devour the head, killing the prey. Then they leisurely eat the rest of whatever unfortunate creature they have siezed. Mantids are attracted to motion, and they grab with one quick lunge. Sounds entirely plausible to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:29 PM

Here's an article on the praying mantis.

"The mantid bites the neck of its prey to paralyze it and begins to devour it."

and

"Praying mantises eat insects and other invertebrates such as other mantises, beetles, butterflies, spiders, crickets, grasshoppers, and even spiders. The praying mantises also eat vertebrates such as small tree frogs, lizards, mice and hummingbirds. Praying mantids can resemble flowers and can catch small, unknowing hummingbirds. Praying mantids also eat other nesting birds."

The things you learn at Mudcat...

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 12:33 PM

Hm, thanks LH; may have to change my Mudcat name again.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 01:11 PM

Yeah... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 01:14 PM

Pretty interesting. Thanks, Jeri!

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 11:57 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 01:37 PM

Yeah, like when my cat killed my Rottweiler. It got stuck in it's throat ! ;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: annamill
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 05:01 PM

YUCH!

Having just moved to San Diego I can tell you those little guys are so wonderful to watch flying amongst the trees chasing each other around and around. I hate to think the little beauties will fall prey/pray to some hungry bug!

Well, I guess facts are facts but I think I could have lived without ever knowing this one. I hope I never see this.

I once saw a sea gull fly down and steal a lost baby duck in the Shrewsbury River in Jersey. Boy, was I pissed. Little feet paddling like crazy to get away. It dove as far down into Shrewsbury as it could, but it wasn't far enough. Off flew the horrid creature with the furry little guy in its beak. There was nothing I could do. Boy, was I pissed. I guess I still am.

Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,peedeecee
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 06:47 PM

Wouldn't you be just as angry if you saw a cat get a seagull? A dog get a cat? A bear get a dog?

Actually I'm posting here in an effort to figure out the code. If I've managed, the following word should be in italics. Oh goody, now italics with bold.

Woohoo! Finally!

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 06:58 PM

My kids had the educational experience of watching a seagull kill (and eat) two pigeons recently. Day at the beach.

A hummingbird would've kicked his ass.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: annamill
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 03:59 PM

No, I don't think so. I seem to get angry when little innocent things get hurt. Grown things can generally take care of themselves and are hardened to pain. Generally...

It hurts to see an innocent get hurt for the first time. In the the duckling's case, last time too.

Maybe it's my maternal instinct.

If a dog killed a kitten, bear hurt a puppy, human beating a child..
you see what I mean.

I'm just a mushy.

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 08:33 PM

How come insects never get any sympathy? People are so silly about that "poor little cute thing got et"...

Life in the food chain -- get used to it, you're next.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 09:35 PM

When we assign human emotions and values to things in nature we set up a lot of critters for a difficult time. Charismatic animals, cute baby animals, they tip the scales, but too many of them isn't a good thing.

My almost-elderly next door neighbor impressed me today when she told me that she saw a snake on her back porch. She did get out of there, she said, but she didn't suggest it should be killed or even driven off, even though it was no doubt venomous (it had the classic pit viper head shape). It eats mice and other critters and that's fine with her. I like them fine, but even this naturalist has limits (and knows that snakes can manage to get into houses). I probably would have thumped something at it to move it along, then put down a layer of cedar mulch in the area (it's supposed to repel a lot of critters because of it's strong smell).

Even cockroaches have a useful job. One that's hard to see, but they are useful when they're out in the compost. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Peace
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 09:38 PM

They are useful in a house, too. They let you know that sometimes you see moving spots before your eyes and there really ARE moving spots before your eyes. Saw them in the 1960s. New York. Lots of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: Peace
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 09:38 PM

Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird

Didn't like the tune?

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,tarheel
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 11:25 PM

back in the spring i was walking down the side walk and noticed that a baby robin had fallen oput of it's nest...as i looked for signs of life,it peeped,and opened its big mouth as if to wait for mommy robin to feed it once more! it even tried to flop around on the hot side walk once or twice! i felt so sorry for it, but never saw it's mamma around anywhere....so,i just stomped it's little head to smitherines and put it out of it's misery!....i meam,i couldnt stand the thought of a large praying mantis flying by to Whack it's little head off!

Subject: RE: BS: Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird
From: GUEST,Lesliee
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 04:13 PM

I thought Preying Mantises lopped off the male's head in order to mate with him. But you say a Preying Mantis took of a hummingbird's head? I found your post a bit disturbing.