Thursday, October 6, 2016

just hanging around

I stepped out the front door to shake out a blanket and noticed a praying mantis hanging on the awning support.


Just hanging out. I went in and got the camera, and started around him, taking pictures.


His head turned as I moved along and his eyes looked at me. Rather unsettling.

I think what makes them seem so weird is that we don't expect insects to have intelligence. I can't think of any others who do, that I know of. I told my theory to my brother, and he said when ants see a threat, they scamper away to escape getting squashed, but I think that is just instinct. This guy followed me as I went around him to get a good angle - he turned his head and looked at me.

I first used the point-and-shoot, but then got my DSLR; when I focused, his jaws were working - it seemed like he was silently crabbing at me for bothering him! At least, that was my thought, but it turned out he was chewing.

He hung around a while, then disappeared, and then I realized I've never seen one flying.


6 comments:

  1. wow, that's really neat! I would find him looking at me unnerving too!

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  2. What a strange experience! We don't get praying mantis here and I'd love to see one.

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    1. Clare, you're such a nature expert, you wouldn't be put off by his strangeness, I'm sure!

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  3. I think they are creepy! They would make a great horror movie ~ The Giant Mantis! Ugh

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    1. They would. Thank God he didn't make them giants! :-o

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