Why are praying mantis so friendly?

reply to post by mr-lizard


i never used to kill insects, maybe house flies and spiders that are inside. but for some reason these days, started about 4 years ago, i cant bring myself to kill any of them anymore.

you know how sidewalk cracks sometimes have small built up ant hills? i step over them and try not to squish any ants. I figure since they are not attacking me why should i destroy their home? they have as much right to be there as I do. I wouldnt want a giant foot coming outta the sky and kicking my house.

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heres something ive always thought about.

As humans we can see....w/e our horizon line is, 14 km's? What would the horizon line be to a spider or a praying mantis? do they see the same 14 km's? or do they see... 50 feet?

im sorry if thats a stupid question but haha.

reply to post by LeTan


Thanks for the story. I've had a similar experience.

I was outside by the pool one day and one landed on the other side of the table I was sitting at. It slowly started walking towards me and I was curious to see how aware of me he/she was. When it got real close, I leaned my head forward and stared it right in its eyes. They have HUGE eyes. I then moved my head from right to left and it followed me, turning its entire head to the position I was in.
I was so astounded at how smart these things are, and while I usually take a dislike to large insects, I just though to myself how awesome this animal is.
I often wonder if these types of insects are natural to our world, they seem so alien.

I don't kill bugs,except for the occassionaly creepy spider. I admit if they rate too high on the creepy scale I dont want them reproducing near my house, lol.

But I do go out of my way to rescue bugs. Even out of pools. Bees, it doesn't matter.

just wanted to say thanks a lot everyone for making this thread and reminding me about the few times ive ever encountered a mantis,

now i have to go out and get one for a pet thanks a lot

My buddy befriended one once, so I took a few picks of it.

(The mantis is the one on the right)

Wow beautiful pictures! That mantis looks like the one I found today, they are truely beautiful creatures, Notice that it's front legs are in an outstretched position as if to say hello, and not in a striking position!

Fun thread.

I remember when I was a kid, about 7 years old encountering one in a hedge bush near our home, this one seemed to want to play peek-a-boo with me... The Mantis was behind a leaf and as I got closer began moving its head and large eyes around in circles, then stared at me as did I at it for a bit then it ducked behind a leaf, I moved closer and it darted its head out as if to say BOO... This went on for a while and I remember giggling loudly... I swear I think that insect was having as much fun as I was.

[edit on 26-2-2009 by Walkswithfish]

reply to post by lernmore


I found one like that years ago when I worked on the railway. I found him outside the shop when I went for a smoke. It was the first time i had ever seen one live. He got on my hand and after checking it out for awhile , I put it on my shoulder and did my inspections, in and out of passenger cars. It stayed on my shoulder the whole time. I finally had to let it go. But it was pretty cool. I'm not a big insect fan but something about a Mantis didn't bother me at all. Maybe it's the head, it looks at you. They seem smart.

I found one about ten years ago on a window sill of my office. Kept it for a day and fed it another insect which it ate. The next day I open my office door and male comes in. Turned out it was a female. They did their thing in the box it was in and then the female tore the males head off. Sorry but had to share It was most certainly a Feminist

I love mantids. I will rescue them whenever I get a chance. We have them around here quite frequently. The biggest I've seen was over 6 inches long, and he was striking at peoples' legs as they passed him by on the sidewalk. He obviously was scared. Surprisingly no one harmed him. I took it upon myself to get him up on a stick and I put him safely on the side of a building away from the feet of people. I don't care much for bugs, but there's definitely something different about mantids.

Them critters freak my out.
I remember the first time I saw a praying mantis as a kid, it was like "what the heck is that with the big buggy eyes".
I approached it and it started watching me, I then walked around it and IT FOLLOWED MY EVERY MOVEMENT WITH IT'S LITTLE HEAD.
YIKES.
The only other animal I've ever known to watch and follow your movement are the cattle near Aera 51.

I think I was traumatized because I still remember that.
...but why is it praying?

I can already see the ACLU and the secular progressives trying to rename this little critter.

Originally posted by LeTan
reply to post by Jomina

 

Thats amazing! I had similar experiences, these insects seem so wise!

Wisdom? Absolutely. Especially in their mating habits. The world would be a better place if we followed their lead there.

reply to post by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf


Then who would drive you guys to the hospital? I kind of envy mantises, simple life, hatch out of an egg with millions of your brothers and sisters, eat, make love, get eaten by a sex driven female!

My mother had an experience with a mantis long ago.

She was playing the piano, really into the music, when she suddenly noticed movement out of the corner of ther eye. She continued playing when she glanced down, and saw a large praying mantis sitting next to her. The best thing she remembers, however, was as she played, the mantis danced. It stepped side to side with its forelimbs raised high.

Afterwards, she grabbed a sheet of paper, scooped up the mantis, and set it outside in the garden.

I've also noticed that praying mantises seem to be able to change color. The concrete foundation of our house is a beige color, and I saw a mantis clinging to the wall the exact same color! I used to think they stayed green until I saw that mantis!

I've also heard that of all insects, they have the most developed nervous system. Is that why pesticides are particularly debilitating to them?

I'm wondering if humanity ever goes extinct, will the Praying Mantis replace us? (If the apes don't first.)

[edit on 15-3-2009 by FreddyAuratus]

Gotta love the mantids!

During the time I did insect photography as a hobby, I'd come across quite a few different species of mantids -- each have a unique character, although pretty much all are friendly/curious.

Here's a few shots of some different species I've gotten over the years.













Growing up as an insect enthusiast I've kept a couple as pets at one time or another. I won't forget the one girl I had, big girl, that ate a chunk out of my thumb when I went to feed her one morning. Once she grabbed a hold of my thumb it literally took me around a minute before I could get her off safely without ripping any of her legs off. In the meantime she was seriously munching on my thumb -- In fact I've still got a scar!

Don't let this story make you scared of mantid's though -- I've held plenty in my lifetime and that was an extremely rare case, has never happened again thankfully.

I've always joked since that happened though, thank god they are as small as they are!

[edit on 15/3/09 by Navieko]

I saw one in mexico, its an incredible looking insect.

They sure are very observant.
They actually remind me of the alien from the Communion book cover.

Maybe they are alien insect drones put on this planet to monitor our every move?

Not super friendly, haha. I mean, they're not shy around humans. But they are nasty little carnivores to some other insects. And apparently not too nice to cats.

This reminds me of the giant stick insects we used to occasionally see when I lived in the Kimberly in Northwest WA.


they could get up to a foot long, amazing things!


I'll try to find a pic.

Here we go:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b0ebb19c9a54.jpg[/atsimg]

Better known as the Goliath stick insect

[edit on 16-3-2009 by Chadwickus]