Author Topic: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls  (Read 4842 times)

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Offline Scott Derrick

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Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« on: October 07, 2014, 08:22:35 pm »
I was outside today checking on my bees when I saw something very interesting. It was a praying mantis eating one of my honey bees. I can't say that I've seen one of these in a long time. Seeing one of them eating a honey bee was even more stunning.

My phone did pretty good job capturing the action. I hope you like it.



Scott Derrick
Creator: Honey-B-Gone, Swarm Commander

Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2014, 08:30:34 pm »
Hey Scott! That is too weird! Just today I took a pic of a praying mantis munching on one of my bees. I didn't like that At All. But, on the other hand I love the praying mantis in the yard, they take care of the black widows nsuch


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Offline Scott Derrick

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2014, 08:35:24 pm »
Jen...that is Ironic for sure. I as conflicted watching it. I love my girls so much but I also love praying mantises. It was like watching train wreck. I couldn't take my eyes off of it.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2014, 09:16:07 pm »
Ha! Me Too....  I stared ... and I SWEAR I could hear crunching and chewing ... creepy .... PMantis was holding the bee like a hamburger for crying out loud! take a bite, look around, take another bite, look up at me ... shutter ... but then I ran into the house and got the camera.

But I also have lizards in the yard that get meals at the hive too.... what's a beekeeper to Do!  :-\
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Offline ledifni

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2014, 09:31:20 pm »
Praying mantises are amazing, and I think the number of bees they would take hardly matters to the hive.  I kill more bees inspecting the hive.  I don't mind if they hang around in my garden :)

Offline ledifni

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2014, 09:32:24 pm »
Now yellow jackets on the other hand...  :eusa_wall:

Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2014, 09:34:33 pm »
Praying Mantis don't eat that many bees, but lizards and spiders are a big predators on bees, which makes me a big predator on them ;D. Thr lizards are pretty fast and hard to get, but after being bit twice by the fiddle back,i show no mercy to them or the black widow spider and have found many under the hive lids.  :o Jack

Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2014, 09:39:45 pm »
When I find a pmantis in my yard I always let it walk onto my hand ~ here's a pic from the other day, pretty sure it's the same mantis




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Offline barry42001

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2014, 09:49:56 pm »
And praying mantis can cop quite a attitude if they feel threatened by people lol, I enjoy watching them.  :-)
"if a man is alone in the woods, and speaks and no woman is there to hear him. is he still wrong?

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2014, 10:41:25 pm »
I noticed, in an out yard, the spiders had spun webs in the grass in front of my hives.  That's another good reason to keep the grass trimmed down.
Praying Mantis and Walking Sticks are the coolest.

Offline Zweefer

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2014, 10:55:16 pm »
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.  The music adds to it perfectly.
Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2014, 11:08:50 pm »
It's mezmerizing isn't it Zweef?  And ironically, Scott's vid and my pic are showing that the pmantis is eating the head first.

   The Nerve....
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2014, 08:06:36 am »
Zombie praying mantis!
Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
Henry David Thoreau

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2014, 08:33:48 am »
Well, we are nearing Halloween! ;)

Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2014, 02:25:18 pm »
Walking Zombie Mantis ~ lol
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Offline Scott Derrick

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2014, 04:53:31 pm »
Walking Zombie Mantis ~ lol

Jen...No this is a Zombie Praying Mantis.....just wait for it...

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Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #16 on: October 09, 2014, 05:12:33 pm »
Seriously! I have seen some gross stuff before... scuze me while go hurl!

   Do they all die like that?
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Offline Scott Derrick

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2014, 05:14:08 pm »
I think this one had a parasite in it. I feel confident that's not normal. Least I hope not!
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Offline Jen

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2014, 05:59:22 pm »
I swear! If I ever see this happening to any of my praying mantis I'm going to scream bloody zombie murder.
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Offline Scott Derrick

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Re: Praying Mantis Eating One Of My Girls
« Reply #19 on: October 09, 2014, 06:01:52 pm »
Probably Ebola for Praying Mantis.  :D
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