Saturday, May 2, 2015

First Mantises of 2015

Last Fall, I marked this Praying Mantis egg case with a bit of ribbon, the better to see it in the Forsythia bush in Spring. Today I was checking it and saw the white forms from which the nymphs had emerged. (Click images to enlarge.)
Life and death are very close in the insect world. A black ant was prowling the egg case to feed on the emerging nymphs.
The nymphs shed their exoskeletons and become staple-sized versions of their adult selves, complete with antennae and long legs.
Off to see the world! This tiny creature will grow over the months to a fierce predator about three or four inches long. After mating, the female will make an egg case and all the adult mantises die as cold weather sets in. The egg case shields the next generation until a nice day like today, when they come out.

--Bernice
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4 comments:

  1. Rebecca WilliamsMay 2, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    Mantises--my favorites! Thanks, Bernice!

    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jackie S.May 3, 2015 at 1:09 PM

    The true sign that spring is here to stay!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 3, 2015 at 8:35 PM

    great pic's!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bill GarrettMay 4, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    We have eagerly then awaiting hours to return to the yard. They are so interesting to watch, especially when they eat. I have had one sit on my shoulder while I'm working in the yard almost like a pet .

    ReplyDelete

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