by Nancy S.
Member since:
May 18, 2007

Lunch for the wild ones.

August 28, 2009 10:20 PM EDT
views: 147 | comments: 38

   While I was in Arizona we took many pictures of all the butterflys that were in my dil's pretty little flower bed.  The first morning I noticed a Praying Mantis on one of the blossoms and he never moved the whole 5 days I was there.  The last full day my dil looked at her flower bed and grabbed the camera.  We were all shocked that she happened to catch this dramatic scene.  The Praying Mantis looked right at her several times like he was showing her how it was done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

      We couldn't believe how lucky she was to be there at just the right moment but on the other hand it was pretty graphic. 

  She has a Kodak Easy Share too.

 

 
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Comments: 38

Heather E. Aug 28, 2009, 10:47pm EDT
The colors are just brilliant. I cannot believe she caught the whole lunch sequence.
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:06pm EDT
We were all shocked to see this Heather. It actually took several minutes.
yikes, all I can think of is "poor butterfly."
Couldn't look at them closely.
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:07pm EDT
I agree Faith. It was pretty gross even tho I know it's just natural.
We went to a place in Branson MO that has a 'Butterfly Palace' and they showed us a video of life in the wild for butterflies. It from beginnings to endings and it was eaten by a preying mantis like this. It ruined the whole video for me. Nature is very violent.
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 12:37am EDT
I know this happens but it's hard to watch it.
Esther IS Flesh and Blood S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:07pm EDT
Wow now that was intense. I didn't know praying mantis ate butterflies but ya learn something new everyday.

Great shots!
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:35pm EDT
That was new to me too. He had to have been fast.
Tanya P. Aug 28, 2009, 11:11pm EDT
That is dramatic. And all that food, yet he won't put an ounce on him. Guess butterflies are low fat, low carb, low calorie.
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:35pm EDT
Oh my Tanya. Lol. Glad you put a little humor in this.
Larry H. Aug 28, 2009, 11:13pm EDT
thanks for sharing your pictures.
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
Thanks Larry.
Linda T. Aug 28, 2009, 11:30pm EDT
The butterfly has special meaning to me and I have always liked prayer mantis but I am going to be looking at them a bit differently now. I never knew they ate butterflies either.
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 12:39am EDT
Glad we caught it this once but I sure don't want to see it again.
Wow, what a great scene to see, althougha bit graphic too!
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 9:49am EDT
Very graphoc. We couldn't believe it happened right in front of us.
Nancy * Aug 29, 2009, 6:49am EDT
I have known mantises feed on other insect for a longtime. I've never seen them feed except possibly in a National Geographic documentary (or some such). The pictures are awesome though graphic, it's nature doing what nature does.
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 9:50am EDT
I know there is a food chain but you don't usually think about it when you see them.
Nancy * Aug 29, 2009, 10:02am EDT
no not often. I saw a hawk snatch a sparrow from the air once and about freaked out, but again, it's the way of nature.
Tory H. Aug 29, 2009, 8:11am EDT
Ooh, wow.
I saw one feeding on a cicada at one point... it's pretty scary, in a way, even though they're so small!
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 9:52am EDT
Tory I googled them and it showed one of them eating a Humming bird. Now that was gross.
Tory H. Aug 29, 2009, 6:29pm EDT
Ick!
I'm so glad they don't come in sizes any bigger than that.
John S. (arizona) Aug 29, 2009, 10:13am EDT
Wow! Great series of pictures. Nature in action...
Thanks.
Gul Dixon Aug 29, 2009, 10:20am EDT
Great shots! What an essay! Lovely!
David M. Aug 29, 2009, 10:24am EDT
Great capture, a truly amazing series of photos. Nice job sticking with it.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Aug 29, 2009, 3:34pm EDT
Nancy, I didn't realize that you were such a great photographer! These are terrific pictures. I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Arizona, but I'm also glad you're back here with us!
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 6:56pm EDT
Amanda my dil took these. The rest of us just stayed back so we didn't interrupt this great catch. Thanks anyway and I'm glad to be back too.
Deb J. Aug 29, 2009, 4:25pm EDT
Wow Nancy!!! Those are really some amazing shots that you caught there. You should be a pro!!!
Nancy S. Aug 29, 2009, 6:57pm EDT
Thanks Deb but my dil took these. She's been getting some amazing shots.
Heidi S. Aug 29, 2009, 7:11pm EDT
Wow - what a great sequence of pictures! Thanks!
Verie Sandborg Aug 29, 2009, 7:14pm EDT
These are so good they could be used in a book about insects.
Elaine S. Aug 29, 2009, 7:17pm EDT
Awesome Captures Nancy
Bundy P Aug 29, 2009, 8:19pm EDT
Awww, we don't eat butterflies!
Tammie Perry Aug 29, 2009, 11:45pm EDT
This was pretty awesome. It is amazing what God has created. It is also so beautiful.
necee t. Sep 4, 2009, 12:24pm EDT
omg, that's amazing... great photo shoot... mmmlunch......love ya
Victoria H. Sep 9, 2009, 8:57am EDT
OH, wow!! That is awesome!!! Not only great photos, but what a scene to happen to catch!!!
JoAnn C. Sep 9, 2009, 8:43pm EDT
wow, that's pretty amazing. nice captures.
Ruth Luce Sep 12, 2009, 9:55am EDT
Wow, I'll say that was quite the amazing capture, dang!! Mother nature sure is one brutal beast, action/adventure movies sure got nothing on her, magnificent!!

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