the tiny stalker

Praying mantids are highly predacious and feed on a variety of insects, including moths, crickets, grasshoppers and flies. They lie in wait with the front legs in an upraised position. They intently watch and stalk their prey. They will eat each other. This little guy was lurking on our living room window... watching us. i was totally mesmerised, how often do you see a praying mantis? so here are some facts i gathered from my research into this amazing hunter...

• The adult female usually eats the male after or during mating
  


• Mantids are active predators and consume other insects
  


• Front legs modified as raptorial graspers with strong spikes for grabbing and holding prey
  


• 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.