Vlad The Impaler
I named him after having the misfortune of catching a glimpse of him capturing & devouring a Bumble Bee which I have since found he seems to have a lust for bee's in general
From NatGeo
"What is the praying mantis?
The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer.
Hunting adaptations
By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantis can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with a total of 5 eyes:
two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them.
Typically green or brown and well camouflaged on the plants among which they live, mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place.
And YES BettyJo, they are very docile to humans :-)
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Mantis religiosa
TYPE: Invertebrates
DIET: Carnivore
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 1 years
SIZE: 0.5 to 6 inches long"
Vlad The Impaler
I named him after having the misfortune of catching a glimpse of him capturing & devouring a Bumble Bee which I have since found he seems to have a lust for bee's in general
From NatGeo
"What is the praying mantis?
The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer.
Hunting adaptations
By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantis can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with a total of 5 eyes:
two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them.
Typically green or brown and well camouflaged on the plants among which they live, mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place.
And YES BettyJo, they are very docile to humans :-)
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Mantis religiosa
TYPE: Invertebrates
DIET: Carnivore
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 1 years
SIZE: 0.5 to 6 inches long"