Pray Mantis

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hfentj
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Pray Mantis

Post by hfentj » Mon Sep 06, 2010 12:55 pm

Seen where the Pray Mantis will kill a Humming bird, then today I found one in my building where my finches are but not in the same area. But I'm sure it could have found its way. I had one on a humming bird feeder and was told that they will kill a hummer then seen on a gardening site thru Utube that they will and are very mean. I use to like the bug but not so much anymore, I don't kill them just move them.
Any thoughts ????
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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by CandoAviary » Mon Sep 06, 2010 2:00 pm

A humming bird may have been mistaken for a large bug.
I have praying matis all over...though they are usually only 3 to 4 inches. I have had them in my gouldian flights before. I remove them outdoors (how they got into the screened and welded wire aviary, I still haven't figured out. I removed the mantis so that the goulds would not injure it. I wouldn't worry unless you have some 10 inch or bigger mantis :shock: Though the bugs could cause a fright accident.

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by cindy » Mon Sep 06, 2010 2:13 pm

My husand is an Entomologist, he said it is highly unlikely a praying mantis will pose any threat to your birds. They are protcted in some states. It is best to just relocate them to a safe spot in the yard like a shrub or hedge where they can help control smaller bugs that may be pests.

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by poohbear » Mon Sep 06, 2010 3:12 pm

Glad we don't get the things over here...

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by WhiteMagicWoman » Mon Sep 06, 2010 4:29 pm

:cry:
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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by CandoAviary » Mon Sep 06, 2010 4:33 pm

:( Sad picture

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by cindy » Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:48 pm

If you look at the picture, the mantis is hanging on a plant that is a food source for the hummingbird. The mantis may have been merely defending itself much like it would if you stuck your finger near it and it pinched you to keep from being harm. I would still remove any mantis you find in your cages especially if you have tiny young in nests. The larger finches would be more frightened or alarmed by it as Candace has said. They are cannibals.
Last edited by cindy on Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by Domenic » Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:50 pm

Praying mantises are my favorite bugs. I think the way they hunt is so cool. I don't think they would pose any threat to your birds though, unless they were massive.
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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by cindy » Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:03 pm

Agreed Domenic. I would just be cautious, when it comes to tiny chicks. Mantis will eat tiny frogs and lizards.

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by CandoAviary » Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:19 pm

Domenic wrote:Praying mantises are my favorite bugs. I think the way they hunt is so cool. I don't think they would pose any threat to your birds though, unless they were massive.
My favorite too. As a child I would gather a nest/cocoon from the forsynthia bushes and watch it hatch in a glass terrarium... little worms gnawing out and emerging into wee praying mantises.... 300 of them :shock: I would carefully destribute them around where the rain would not wipe them out right away. I would always keep one as a pet. It lived on the antena of the radio (good vibrations) never caged and I would catch it house flies all summer long. I could hum and make a whirling sound and it would jump right on my mouth. I could always find him behind the curtains of the plate glass window. I would release it in late summer as it would soon turn brown and mate.
Next spring... the cycle again. They were always named Monty. :D
Last edited by CandoAviary on Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by Ursula » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:51 pm

Wow, how cool is that Candace!!! =D> =D> =D>
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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by Mozelle » Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:12 pm

We don't have them "naturally" in our area of Alberta, but for about 5 years now my daughters and I have hatched out mantids every spring :) I've always been fascinated by them, so when I found egg cases for sale on the 'net I bought them. (After checking if they could legally be imported ;) )
The ones I get are Chinese mantids and grow to be about 5 - 6 inches long. I've seen them catch and eat wasps and hornets - so they really ARE a GOOD bug. They're not "mean" just doing what nature intended of them - they don't attack if they're not provoked. My girls wear them like barrettes some days - and they just sit there calm and quiet.
I can totally understand how that hummingbird was "caught", Mantids strike at movement, they really have no idea how big something is until they have it. If prey is too big they generally end up releasing it, they don't want to be hurt either. My suspicion is that the hummingbird most likely managed to free itself - unless it was held long enough to wear out the tiny bird's reserves.
Like everything... they have their place, but maybe not in our aviaries :) They're not dangerous - just place a container over it, and remove it to a safe place where it can eat the nasty bugs in the yard :)

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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by debbie276 » Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:38 am

I love the praying mantis too but they are not all that innocent. I wouldn't leave one in my aviary if I had any young birds in there.
Here is the link to the page where that picture with the hummingbird came from. There are also video's, very hard to say it looks like it was by "accident".
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/fe ... bird/20203
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Re: Pray Mantis

Post by sierranomad » Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:36 am

I love praying Manids, too; but I never had any idea that they would eat anything other than insects. A bird!?

I was in Yosemite this past weekend and saw a chipmunk eating a bird. Always thought they only ate nuts, etc. I'm sure the chipmunk was acting as scavenger, not predator, but it still surprised me.
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