(Click for extra-large version of beady eyes.)
Do you suppose praying mantids have religious disputes?
Is there a pope of European mantids, and if so, have mantids in Islamic countries declared jihad against him?
Chinese mantids - was there a Confucius among them? Are Indian mantids divided into Hindus and Sikhs?
And, are the Carolina mantids likely to be fundamentalists?
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Cool pics of Flower mantids: here, here, here, here, and here.
I just have to throw in the bizarre Wandering Violin mantis.
None of those things happen in Mantid populations....cause the chick mantids are in charge. Get along boy mantids....or it's off with your head.
ReplyDeleteHaha, Zorak :-D
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend likes to say that none of the problems in the world would exist if women were in charge. Meresy points out that in the mantid world women are in charge. Based on their world though there would exist the certain issue of men being ingested by the females following procreation.
That kinda seems like a problem to me...
The mental picture of a mantid jihad has had me giggling for a few minutes already. A war being waged a foot above the ground with fundamentalist mantid creeping up behind their opposers and tearing off their heads is just weird. I think I need help.
ReplyDeleteMantids rule! At least half of them do...Very nice photo and great links- thank you. I like these bugs.
ReplyDeleteOne of the references I read said that mantis eggs that have not been fertilized still occasionally produce offspring! Although those are always female.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting about the unfertilized mantid eggs becoming female. It sounds like parthenogenesis, sort of like aphids. In honeybees it's the reverse - unfertilized eggs become male.
ReplyDeleteInsects do such weird things. I find myself imagining how much fun it would be if we could do them too.
Insects do such weird things. I find myself imagining how much fun it would be if we could do them too.
ReplyDeleteLOTS of fun--especially aerial slug mating!!! (Seriously. Google it. The pictures are amazing.)
Thanks for the giggles today, Rurality--and the great pictures as always. :)
Love the mantis! All I have ever seen is the typical green...never knew there were so many others! Blackswamp girl-all u need to try the "aerial mating" like the slugs is a privately-located swingset...believe me...I know... ;)
ReplyDeleteDo you if immature mantids can cause damage to house plants?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I have no idea.
ReplyDelete