• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • John F Dean
  • r ransom
  • Jay Angler
  • Timothy Norton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Nicole Alderman
master gardeners:
  • M Ljin
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • thomas rubino
  • Megan Palmer

Praying Mantis and Hummingbirds

 
Posts: 90
Location: Virginia
39
2
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I was surprised to see this praying mantis hanging out on my hummingbird feeder last night and this morning. It is the first praying mantis I've seen on my property, and I was excited to think about it preying on ticks in my garden.

I did a little research and learned that praying mantises can also kill and eat hummingbirds. Wild! Did you all know that? It would never have occurred to me that they would be capable of that. Thus, I relocated my new friend to my annual bed where I hope it will take care of the pests that have been going after my cabbages.

20230903093342.JPG
[Thumbnail for 20230903093342.JPG]
 
steward
Posts: 18795
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4753
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have seen praying mantis attack and eat a bug so I could imagine them going after a small bird.

It was good of you to find a new spot in your garden for the praying mantis.
 
pollinator
Posts: 5722
Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b
1630
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
A thoughtful intervention! Both are friendlies in the garden.
 
steward & manure connoisseur
Posts: 5081
Location: South of Capricorn
3044
dog rabbit urban cooking writing homestead ungarbage
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've seen some videos out there of them hunting hummingbirds. But I also have seen so many feeders and so many hummingbirds and none of that happening in my backyard, so I don't worry too much about it. Good on you for rehoming it, they are probably my favorite garden buddy.
(if your feeder is anything like mine, the mantis might be going after wasps and bees too)
 
A tiny monkey bit me and I got tiny ads:
montana community seeking 20 people who are gardeners or want to be gardeners
https://permies.com/t/359868/montana-community-seeking-people-gardeners
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic