mantis feeding on a skipper I fed it: series of different meals...

napabob Loc: Napa CA

series of different meals

please sir, may I have more?

liked the shadow

s t e l l aaaaaaaa!

B.U.G.S Loc: Tucson, AZ

#4 - A little bug sauce on the face...lol

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Amazing photos! The one with the shadow, the one where it needs to wipe the remains of lunch off its face, the "please more" - just incredible!

Please share how you actually fed it: dead insect in long tweezers dangled in front of mantis's face or ?? Am very curious :)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Excellent series. You obviously had fun.

steve1oshea Loc: Reading, England

How big is the mantis?

ps Excellent photo's

napabob Loc: Napa CA

Linda From Maine wrote:

Amazing photos! The one with the shadow, the one where it needs to wipe the remains of lunch off its face, the "please more" - just incredible!
Please share how you actually fed it: dead insect in long tweezers dangled in front of mantis's face or ?? Am very curious :)

hey Linda, thanks for the feedback, I use a bug net to capture the critters and then just hold them in front of it with tweezers, they are still very much alive and their movement gets noticed quickly and once it's grabbed I let go, I'll be posting all sets with the different courses (caterpillar, katydid, hornet, bee).

napabob Loc: Napa CA

steve1oshea wrote:

How big is the mantis?
ps Excellent photo's

thanks, I'm guessing 3- to 3.5-in.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

napabob wrote:

hey Linda, thanks for the feedback, I use a bug net to capture the critters and then just hold them in front of it with tweezers, they are still very much alive and their movement gets noticed quickly and once it's grabbed I let go, I'll be posting all sets with the different courses (caterpillar, katydid, hornet, bee).

Thanks for the info. When I volunteered at the National Zoo's invertebrate exhibit, we used a tuning fork to vibrate against webs of big orb weavers to get their attention, and long tweezers to hold the live cricket lunch.

Looking forward to more photos of the carnage :)

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

B.U.G.S wrote:

#4 - A little bug sauce on the face...lol

Bug sauce, great description, and a very good shot...

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

#4..."what?? just gimme a napkin, I got a date with another" Great shots

Coolcameragirl Loc: Bradenton, FL

These are gross and facinating, all at the same time! Well done!

tinusbum Loc: east texas

now thats just plain mean,maybe i'll try that.great shots!

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Love these guys! They seem to have such an intelligent look about them. Nice set!

napabob Loc: Napa CA

Coolcameragirl wrote:

These are gross and fascinating, all at the same time! Well done!

fascinating for sure, mesmerizing fits too, I post just a few shots from the whole process, so I get to watch the progression during and after. once you feed them they pay you no mind, at least this one didn't, at one point I had my head 3 inches from it just taking it all in, it couldn't have cared less. Feeding seems to have the same affect on spiders.........except jumpers

napabob Loc: Napa CA

napabob wrote:

fascinating for sure, mesmerizing fits too, I post just a few shots from the whole process, so I get to watch the progression during and after. once you feed them they pay you no mind, at least this one didn't, at one point I had my head 3 inches from it just taking it all in, it couldn't have cared less. Feeding seems to have the same affect on spiders.........except jumpers

But you can feed jumpers too, long tweezers, the hand in their face makes em skittish, if the victim is moving their interested