Alpha Predator Of The Bug World.

[jdmidwest]

It has become an evening ritual with the 18 m/o, introducing him to the outside world and nature. I have to pass something along to another generation. Turtles, tree frogs, locusts, hummingbirds, and of course the praying mantis. One of the perks of the little ecosystem I have created around the house with my forest and gardens. One of his favorite parts is playing with the praying mantis's that live and feed in the flower garden and among the trees. The past few years I have been raising a pretty good crop of them and they seem to be flourishing. Of all insects, I have found them to be the most interesting and tolerant of man and handling. They will crawl up on your hand and let you study them, not run and hide or try to get away.

Last year I had one take up station on a shepard's hook that held a hummingbird feeder. I fed him grasshoppers that I had removed the back legs off of several evenings till a big rain and I never saw him again. I would place the live hopper in front of him on the feeder and he would spot it right away. He would do a little zig zag stalk then pounce like a cobra. The ones in the pics have been around several weeks in the thick flower bed in front of the house and have produced alot of entertainment. And the pesty bugs have not eaten up my flowers.

If I could only breed one big enough to take a squirrel or rabbit in the big garden, I would have it made....

[Quillback]

I wonder if they eat tomatoe hornworms, those hornworms appear out of nowhere, I noticed one of my nice plants yesterday looked like the deer had been chewing on it, but I saw the tell tale droppings of a hornworm, found 3 of them on it, it's weird how they can appear out of nowhere and in one day cause a lot of damage.

[Quillback]

I wonder if they eat tomatoe hornworms, those hornworms appear out of nowhere, I noticed one of my nice plants yesterday looked like the deer had been chewing on it, but I saw the tell tale droppings of a hornworm, found 3 of them on it, it's weird how they can appear out of nowhere and in one day cause a lot of damage.

[jdmidwest]

The got mine this weekend too. If you look close, you will find little ones about the size of the inchworm. But they grow fast and eat alot. I usually just pull mine off and squash them. Can't really use pesticides when tomatoes are ripe.

I don't know if the mantis would eat them. I will experiment this afternoon.

[jdmidwest]

Here is a link to a hornworm problem.

Almanac guide to Hornworm control.

[Midwest troutbum]

There are at least two types of mantid in Missouri. The American mantis and the Chinese mantis. Interesting mantid fact: the female mantis if hungry bites the males head off after mating.

[fishinwrench]

Interesting fact it the female mantis bites the males head off after mating.

I know, they are so humanlike, hu?