8/13/2005: Praying mantis kills hummingbird

Undertoad · 08-13-2005, 12:56 PM

A Saturday special? I guess. Boing Boing finds this item from Birdwatchers Digest, in which this gruesome scene is captured. West Chester PA native Richard Walkup describes it thusly:

As you can see from the photographs this hungry mantis captured and killed a hummingbird not much smaller than itself. The mantis used its spiny left foreleg to impale the hummingbird through the chest while leaving his right leg free.

We surmised that the mantis ran the hummer through and dangled its full weight on its foreleg while he consumed the flesh of the hummingbird from the abdomen. After he had his fill, the mantis gave his foreleg several swift jerks and freed his leg.

Ew. But totally amazing.

Elspode · 08-13-2005, 01:00 PM

Wow. Breast of hummingbird? That's probably a pretty rare delicacy, even in the insect world.

wolf · 08-13-2005, 01:02 PM

West Chester is a much tougher town than people realize.

chrisinhouston · 08-13-2005, 01:12 PM

I've been seeing a lot more hummingbirds here in Atlanta where I am staying to look after my parents. The other day I was sitting at my desk and one landed on a branch outside the window to take a break. Seems like you rarely see one sit still for very long. He ket bobbing his head back and forth while he rested as if he couldn't stand to be perfectly still. Then he flew off in search of more flowers.

Saknussem · 08-13-2005, 02:56 PM

Today a hummingbird, tomorrow . . .THE WORLD!!

Would that be a Smorgasbird?

sorry

Happy Monkey · 08-13-2005, 03:17 PM

Zorak!

Perry Winkle · 08-13-2005, 03:26 PM

Damn...that's pretty damn ninja. I never knew mantises had realultimatepower!

wolf · 08-13-2005, 05:17 PM

Why do you think those ancient Kung Fu guys copied their moves?

xoxoxoBruce · 08-13-2005, 11:35 PM

That's incredible. 1- That a Mantis can do that. 2- That it ate it's fill and threw the rest away.

lumberjim · 08-14-2005, 12:54 AM

did you know that if you fold your arms into a mantis like pose, and sway side to side in front of a mantis, it will attempt to attack you? no shit. try it next time you see one. it's fucking awesome. i saw a guy do it at work once. it flew right at him. he was just fucking around imitating it. he spazzed like a little girl.

Cyclefrance · 08-14-2005, 06:30 AM

Sure is a charismatic little fella - the way he pulls the birds...

Trilby · 08-14-2005, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

West Chester is a much tougher town than people realize.

Girl, you crack my shizzle UP!

footfootfoot · 08-14-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Girl, you crack my shizzle UP!

Indeed, Wolf is da explosive device.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-14-2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclefrance

Sure is a charismatic little fella - the way he pulls the birds...

Hmmm.....Brit humor....ah, humour.

Leah · 08-14-2005, 06:32 PM

Yuck I hate those things, I'd have to squish it and save the bird.

08-13-2005, 12:56 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/13/2005: Praying mantis kills hummingbird A Saturday special? I guess. Boing Boing finds this item from Birdwatchers Digest, in which this gruesome scene is captured. West Chester PA native Richard Walkup describes it thusly: As you can see from the photographs this hungry mantis captured and killed a hummingbird not much smaller than itself. The mantis used its spiny left foreleg to impale the hummingbird through the chest while leaving his right leg free. We surmised that the mantis ran the hummer through and dangled its full weight on its foreleg while he consumed the flesh of the hummingbird from the abdomen. After he had his fill, the mantis gave his foreleg several swift jerks and freed his leg. Ew. But totally amazing.

08-13-2005, 01:00 PM	#2
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Wow. Breast of hummingbird? That's probably a pretty rare delicacy, even in the insect world. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-13-2005, 01:02 PM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	West Chester is a much tougher town than people realize. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-13-2005, 03:17 PM	#6
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Zorak! __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

08-13-2005, 05:17 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Why do you think those ancient Kung Fu guys copied their moves? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-13-2005, 01:12 PM	#4
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I've been seeing a lot more hummingbirds here in Atlanta where I am staying to look after my parents. The other day I was sitting at my desk and one landed on a branch outside the window to take a break. Seems like you rarely see one sit still for very long. He ket bobbing his head back and forth while he rested as if he couldn't stand to be perfectly still. Then he flew off in search of more flowers.

08-13-2005, 02:56 PM	#5
Saknussem Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 93	Today a hummingbird, tomorrow . . .THE WORLD!! Would that be a Smorgasbird? sorry

08-13-2005, 03:26 PM	#7
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	Damn...that's pretty damn ninja. I never knew mantises had realultimatepower!

08-13-2005, 11:35 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	That's incredible. 1- That a Mantis can do that. 2- That it ate it's fill and threw the rest away. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-14-2005, 12:54 AM	#10
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	did you know that if you fold your arms into a mantis like pose, and sway side to side in front of a mantis, it will attempt to attack you? no shit. try it next time you see one. it's fucking awesome. i saw a guy do it at work once. it flew right at him. he was just fucking around imitating it. he spazzed like a little girl. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-14-2005, 06:30 AM	#11
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Sure is a charismatic little fella - the way he pulls the birds... __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

08-14-2005, 06:32 PM	#15
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Yuck I hate those things, I'd have to squish it and save the bird.

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