Wow Harryshoe, that is an amazing picture! They are not picky about what they eat, which can also be another mantis. I wonder if they eat japanese beetles? Thanks for posting. Ruth

Wow, they look like something from a UFO movie!!

I have a pic of one on my LR window screen a few days ago. They certainly are big. I have never seen one eat anything tho.

Deb in PA

Here is a link that might be useful:

I once watched one eat a bee on my Roses, he started with the head, and the remainder kept twitching,really nasty stuff.

Yesterday afternoon while my little girl was at her favorite perch on the short clothesline I have up for her near her favorite plantz, 2 dragonflies were circling all around the area. I stayed out there jumping up and down everytime they came close. Little bit would go from the line to the feeder and over to the flowers then back to the line. I am sure she was wondering what this oversized creature was doing jumping up and down and yelling and waving her arms around for. They did eventually move on but they seemed to be scoping out lil' bit for dinner and I don't think I could have handled that.

Penny

Oh my...Penny, please tell me you aren't saying that dragonflies will feast on hummies. I'd hate to see that happen. I'm trying to keep an eye on the PM's already. I'm not a big "bitty" critter fan, but I leave them alone if they leave me alone but if they hurt my babies, I'd have to hurt them!
It was hard enough to see a hawk swoop into my yard and snatch up a bird...hope it was a cowbird and not a goldie, but couldn't tell for sure from where I was sitting.
I know it's the nature of things and all that, but...

glo

Glo,
I don't think it happens often but large dragon flies are hummer predators. The 2 I saw yesterday weren't really big but the two of them together could possibly try and take on a hummie and that is what concerned me.

Penny

Well, crud!!! Now I have to keep an eye out for them too. I know I'll lose the babies to migration, but to predators...not on my watch@#@$@#^

glo

OMG I was horrified to see my bullfrog with a chipping sparrow hanging out of her mouth and quickly relocated her to a nice lake *sigh* I loved that frog but just could not have that going on. I cant immagine a BUG eating a bird. How can they? Do they sting it somehow? Dragonflys can eat a hummer?????I thought the BIRDS were suposed to eat the BUGS!
Lisa

No all dragonflies will attack a hummer but the larger ones can. From what I have read they form a basket with their legs to catch a hummer. I do think hummers are faster than dragonflies but I suppose that they try and catch them off guard.

Penny

This was posted a while ago... Sad but it happens -- that's nature, I guess.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mantis with bird

Dragonfly's praying mantisses and sharp shinned hawks! Oh my! None are welcome in my yard.

But the worst in my yard. Is the people two houses down from me have a fat cat that thinks he owns my yard! I chase him out and he looks at me like I'm crazy. Last week I noticed him walking down the neigbor on the other side's driveway. I watched where he ws going lost him then noticed him sitting on the back stone edge next to trumpet vine I went over there to chase him away and right in his face was a hummer they were both staring at each other! So I screamed and they looked at me like what's this crazy big human doing? he barely moved I've had it with their cat! He used to have a bell but not anymore! Sarah

Thanks Rita. That made me feel much better. This mantis has been around the agastache for at least a week. Do you think I should move her? It is so big now. I may wear gloves.

I don't think it'll hurt the mantis to be moved someplace else to catch bugs. I think they're rather cool. In the islands they grew about 6 inches long. When we were kids we played with them with our bare hands but they will bite in rare cases if provoked, so gloves might be a good idea. We caged them loosely with our fingers when we picked them up.

Geeze I have seen them in the vegatable garden wich is a jungle of pupmkins, squash, corn and beans, no way possible to LOOK for them, we can hardly even walk in there. The hummers love the squash blossoms too. uhoh I guess this will have to go the way of nature along with the hawks. Well at least I dont have HOSP or starlings or house wrens murdering my other birds.
Lisa

They will eat hummers.
Every year I have to remove them from the hummer feeders.
I think someone even posted a picture here once
showing a mantis devouring a hummer.

They look like aliens to me.
Their heads do, anyway.

They are aliens from China I think they sure aren't native! Sarah

I thought it was an old wives tale but I was wrong!

A mantis really could catch and eat a hummingbird.
It is kind of amazing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Very gruesome picture- Warning

Jill and Rita,
Thanks for posting those links,I had seen another site with pics of a Mantid killing a hummer on Goldenrod.Those pics were taken well south of the Mason-Dixon line where I thought Chinese Mantisis get bigger because of the longer growing season.These new pics however were taken in PA!
Our native Mantisis (which are brownish - purple) only get about 2 1/2" max and sortof look like purple hyacinth beans to me, they are very interesting looking.
-stephen

I have to rename the post. The monster is a she. I think. Anyway, she was makin' new mantises last night with a mate about half her size. I think the male is smaller, not to mention a lot braver than most. I considered another photo. However, it just seemed like too much of an intrusion of their privacy. And a little weird. I wanted to see if she devoured him at the end the romance, but it started getting dark.

Could a PM be what is injuring my toads? I've had two attacked by something. One I had to euthanize. The other sat quietly chirping when I found it with blood on it's back. Could this be a mantis?

Deb in PA

at my house. the baby herons are learning to fish,(hunt, i guess), and this time of year i find several frogs and fish that were just wounded, but left to heal or die on their own. happens every late summer here. i'd guess they are more likely culprits than mantis.

It's true. Praying Mantis are deadly to hummingbirds!!! Someone did post a picture a while back. I remember how shocked I was!!!!! I didn't realize Dragon Flys could injure hummingbirds either!!! I love the name Penny gave her little baby. Little Bit! Penny I would be out there ranting and raving too! Sarah I had to laugh when I read about the neighbor's big fat kitty! It wouldn't have been so funny if he made a snack out of our your little hummingbird!