This post should illustrate that you just never know what you might find if you look close enough.
So I’m out in the backyard today, taking some pictures of Butterflies, when I notice this Honeybee that looks like its head is stuck in between the leaves of this plant. My first thought (seriously) was how in the heck does a Bee get its head stuck between plant leaves?
As I look closer, I see that those “leaves” where the Bee had its head stuck are in fact not “leaves” but legs, the legs of a HUGE Praying Mantis.
I quickly switch over to my macro lens and begin shooting.
Praying Mantis Eating Honeybee
The Praying Mantis was really going to town on this Bee. You would think (or at least I thought this way) that as aggressive as this Praying Mantis is, no other insect would dare come close, but that was not the case. Some crazy fly decided that a partially dismembered Honeybee would make a tasty meal, so it flew right on top of the Mantis’ eye.
Praying Mantis Eating Bee With Fly On Eye
It took the Mantis about 5 minutes to consume about half of the Bee.
Praying Mantis With Dismembered Honeybee
Below is a brief video illustrating what I have described so far.
Another 5 minutes go by, and the Mantis is done eating. During the next several minutes, it cleaned itself up, then put out a bright big smile.
Praying Mantis Head
This final video is a brief excerpt of the Mantis cleaning itself.
by texdr
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