Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Drama on the Deck

I didn't mean to make this Praying Mantis so unhappy.
I have had this planter for years and it never crossed my mind that the design on it would become such an issue....
 She tried to climb the side of the planter and reach the smaller images of her kind. This poor Mantid was so frustrated that she finally collapsed on the porch deck and then,resting for a minute, she looked up at the drawings on the planter one last time. I could just hear her saying, " It's hard enough trying to find a mate around here without cave drawings that look real. I have business to take care of. I have needs."
I watched her as she walked across the deck and climbed onto the rose bush. She looked so tired.

This morning she was on the Chrysanthemums in the planter near the porch steps. She looked better. Must have found what she was looking for...
I think she is a Pacific Ground Mantid. Do you know that the female often devours the male while mating? What a dilemma that must be for the males.

9 comments:

  1. Hopefully they die with a smile on their little green faces! We don't have them here but I remember them as a kid in Toronto. They always seemed like something from another planet! p.s you're welcome in this neck of the woods anytime. It would be fun to show you the town....well the woods anyway!

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  2. I'm in agreement with the first two comments! They aren't to prevalent down here in NC either. I love the planter! Poor baby :(

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  3. Poor little thing. Hope he or she found what was needed to make it happy. The ones I have seen here are brown the green one you photographed is real pretty. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  4. How interesting that she was fascinated by the artwork on the planter. I'm glad she gave up and found the mums. I haven't seen a praying mantis in years!

    Here's the link to the lavosh. Very easy and VERY tasty! Let me know if you make it.
    http://www.circle-b-kitchen.com/food-and-recipes/2010/4/28/lavosh.html

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  5. Good thing for the male, that this one could not climb very well.

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  6. Yeah but you know males they'd do it anyway!

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  7. Your correlated shots of Ms. Mantis silhouetting the drawings is phenomenal!!! These photos are worthy of entrance into a photography contest. PLEASE, find one (that pays a LOT) and enter. If your photo requires a title, here’s a suggestion: “Beware, lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” Aesop
    Now, as to your final comment. I have doubts that there is any dilemma; observe the male, any male-----when the blood rushes from his brain to that other special area, the ability to think about the future quite clearly vanishes! ~ Dawn

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  8. Wow - love these pics. Who knew a praying mantis would respond to an artists rendition of themselves. Fascinating!

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