I found a neat critter today - praying mantis (PICS! most people will likely find these disturbing) - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I found a neat critter today - praying mantis (PICS! most people will likely find these disturbing) (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:51:09 PM EST

I don't see these too often around here, and I was excited to find this one.

That is, until it figured out what I was up to. The first few pictures were...pretty normal. Then it descended into a world of WTF that I cannot even begin to describe. I don't know what this mantis was doing, but if a person did it, they'd probably either be in jail or in a mental institution. All I can say is damn nature, you scary. Ye be warned. Don't look at these pics if you don't wanna get creeped the fuck out. Seriously. Not kidding.

Seriously, turn back now if you don't wanna get creeped out.

Look at the cute mantis

DSC_3280-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

He's adorable.

DSC_3283-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

Just hanging around doing mantis things

DSC_3289-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

Weird shit begins below

Wait, WTF?

DSC_3321-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

Uh...

DSC_3335-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

I'm not sure what that is, where it came from, or why he's licking it but here

DSC_3336-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

DSC_3337-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

Yeah. This happened.

DSC_3339-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

They're apparently really flexible.

DSC_3343-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

OK, I'm a bit weirded out myself by what I witnessed. To make it just a little bit more fucked up, when he was done...he got this look on his face:

DSC_3352-Edit-2 by Zack, on Flickr

A little closer:

DSC_3352-Edit by Zack, on Flickr

I'm not taking any more pictures of these critters. That was enough.

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:55:04 PM EST

[#1]

Swamp ass transcends species.

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:55:08 PM EST

[#2]

The female kills and eats the male after mating.

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:56:19 PM EST

[#3]

You found zorak!

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:56:38 PM EST

[#4]

Be honest......you'd do it too if you could.

Posted: 10/3/2016 11:58:24 PM EST

[#5]

Fuckdamnit, even the insects are flaming queers these days.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:00:44 AM EST

[#6]

As always, amazing pictures Zack

Some day I want to drink beers with you and have you teach me how to get these sharp images

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:03:01 AM EST

[#7]

Fall is an excellent time to find these for some reason.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:04:54 AM EST

[#8]

Zorak is not amused:

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:05:50 AM EST

[#9]

Cool pics.

I get a bunch of those guys and its creepy cousin, the Dobson Fly (not my pic), on my windows at night. Light attracts the smaller bugs, and smaller bugs attract these two.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:06:18 AM EST

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Zorak is not amused:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h255/Darrellbear/ZorakBlink_zps7wjmoege.gif

View Quote

THAT brings back memories.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:10:30 AM EST

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Cool pics.

I get a bunch of those guys and its creepy cousin, the Dobson Fly (not my pic), on my windows at night. Light attracts the smaller bugs, and smaller bugs attract these two.

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w529/afroney/Male%20Eastern%20Dobsonfly_zpsvv7koter.jpg

View Quote

That thing is fucking AWESOME.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:18:26 AM EST

[#12]

Seeing a Praying Mantis is a good omen. Great pics!

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:21:43 AM EST

[#13]

When I was a kid praying mantis were something we read about, thought would be cool, watched videos in science class, ect. There were NONE, at all, in the Portland area when I was a kid.

Moved away for several years, then moved back. Got a job framing houses. Picked up a stack of 2x4's, threw them on my shoulder, and started walking. Then I became aware of some bug climbing onto my head. About the time I realized it had legs on TOP of my ear, and legs BELOW my ear I wigged the F'k out. Tossed the boards and started slapping myself on the head like it had caught fire. I think my legs were doing something about relocating my body to another county, but each leg had it's own idea about what direction to go.

Little did I know people had been importing the damn things. You would think that should be up on some sort of public notice at the airport. You know, "Attention, we now have gigantic bugs that like to crawl on your face, in case you haven't been around the last 10 years."

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:24:33 AM EST

[#14]

That's how my cousin Walter died.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:24:42 AM EST

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
When I was a kid praying mantis were something we read about, thought would be cool, watched videos in science class, ect. There were NONE, at all, in the Portland area when I was a kid.

Moved away for several years, then moved back. Got a job framing houses. Picked up a stack of 2x4's, threw them on my shoulder, and started walking. Then I became aware of some bug climbing onto my head. About the time I realized it had legs on TOP of my ear, and legs BELOW my ear I wigged the F'k out. Tossed the boards and started slapping myself on the head like it had caught fire. I think my legs were doing something about relocating my body to another county, but each leg had it's own idea about what direction to go.

Little did I know people had been importing the damn things. You would think that should be up on some sort of public notice at the airport. You know, "Attention, we now have gigantic bugs that like to crawl on your face, in case you haven't been around the last 10 years."

View Quote

That's pretty funny. The good news is, I've never known them to be dangerous to people.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:30:53 AM EST

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Be honest......you'd do it too if you could.

View Quote

Might never leave the house again.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:31:08 AM EST

[#17]

Dude, those pics are awesome. The KC Royals would most definitely approve: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85449/praying-mantis-has-become-kansas-city-royals-good-luck-charm

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:31:53 AM EST

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

That thing is fucking AWESOME.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cool pics.

I get a bunch of those guys and its creepy cousin, the Dobson Fly (not my pic), on my windows at night. Light attracts the smaller bugs, and smaller bugs attract these two.

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w529/afroney/Male%20Eastern%20Dobsonfly_zpsvv7koter.jpg

That thing is fucking AWESOME.

Yeah. Its a bit of a treat when we see them. The adults live a week or so and die. The males can be handled, despite their fearsome appearance. the females will bite (females don't have the long pincers). Learned that the hard way.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:35:01 AM EST

[#19]

That is a female, cleaning her ovipositor.

I see those things all the time, usually late summer.

They are already turning brown around here, and dying off.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:35:42 AM EST

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Zorak is not amused:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h255/Darrellbear/ZorakBlink_zps7wjmoege.gif

View Quote

Space Ghost was awesome.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:37:36 AM EST

[#21]

oh my god I need to wash my eyes out with a cartel chainsaw execution vid real quick

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:40:23 AM EST

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
That is a female, cleaning her ovipositor.

View Quote

I don't know why you know this, but I'm going to believe you.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:43:06 AM EST

[#23]

Closest I've ever seen is a stickbug.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:45:39 AM EST

[#24]

I was thinking you were going to post pics of it catching a bird or something like that.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:45:47 AM EST

[#25]

Great pictures.

I've had pet spiders and snakes but PM's freak me out.

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:51:38 AM EST

[#26]

What's his screen name?

Posted: 10/4/2016 12:58:37 AM EST

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Great pictures.

I've had pet spiders and snakes but PM's freak me out.

View Quote

PM sent.

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:00:22 AM EST

[#28]

I always loved praying mantises. Of all the bugs we encountered growing up and playing outside, they were far and away the most friendly and good natured. They just seemed really laid back, never tried to bite.

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:05:40 AM EST

[#29]

That capability could've saved me a ton of cash in my single days.

Things are cool used to find them all the time as a kid.

As always you take some bad ass pics.

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:15:35 AM EST

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
I always loved praying mantises. Of all the bugs we encountered growing up and playing outside, they were far and away the most friendly and good natured. They just seemed really laid back, never tried to bite.

View Quote

This.

I don't know why, but they come off as "friendly" or "inquisitive" when you find them. I've always wanted a few as pets, which you can actually order.

Obligatory:

Language NSFW

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:20:12 AM EST

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:

I always loved praying mantises. Of all the bugs we encountered growing up and playing outside, they were far and away the most friendly and good natured. They just seemed really laid back, never tried to bite.

View Quote

After seeing OPs pics I understand their good mood

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:22:41 AM EST

[#32]

Tag

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:31:02 AM EST

[#33]

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:40:40 AM EST

[#34]

Those are awesome shots!

If you have some in-betweens, it'd be a good animated GIF.

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:48:41 AM EST

[#35]

Hold a praying mantis under water to see this one weird trick!

But seriously. Its kinda trippy.

Posted: 10/4/2016 1:50:33 AM EST

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's how my cousin Walter died.

View Quote

Posted: 10/4/2016 2:42:16 AM EST

[#37]

Quoted:
That's how my cousin Walter died.

View Quote

I just watched that on Netflix a couple nights ago.

Posted: 10/4/2016 2:45:03 AM EST

[#38]

Come at me bro...

Posted: 10/4/2016 2:48:31 AM EST

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
As always, amazing pictures Zack

Some day I want to drink beers with you and have you teach me how to get these sharp images

View Quote

what kind of beer do you like, ying a ling?

Posted: 10/4/2016 3:22:04 AM EST

[#40]

Where is Sigourney Weaver when we need her? Great pics.

Posted: 10/4/2016 3:46:13 AM EST

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:

https://youtu.be/3g4VVXx3LeI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDm02yrRKgU

View Quote

Was about to say they used to hang around our hummingbird feeders. Every now and then we'd find a decapitated bird

Posted: 10/4/2016 3:52:27 AM EST

[#42]

I fed one a lightning bug (firefly) once, to see what would happen. The mantis was not amused.

Both this year, and last, I had two mantises that just hung around on the side of my house for a week. The one attached itself to a patio screen, and the other to the plant hanger next to my front door. I didn't have anything to feed them.

Weirdest encounter I've had was a giant walking stick bug that climbed on my leg while I was camping. I didn't know the thing was even there until I happened to look down. That thing had a pretty good grip.

Posted: 10/4/2016 6:27:13 AM EST

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:

Was about to say they used to hang around our hummingbird feeders. Every now and then we'd find a decapitated bird

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

https://youtu.be/3g4VVXx3LeI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDm02yrRKgU

Was about to say they used to hang around our hummingbird feeders. Every now and then we'd find a decapitated bird

Just goes to show that if they really wanted to they could give you a pretty mean bite.

Posted: 10/4/2016 6:36:11 AM EST

[#44]

The other morning I was leaving for work and as I turned to lock the door behind me there was a weird little bug on the frame. It spread it's arms out just like a mantis when it saw me. I took a picture of it with my Nexus 6p but it was too dark to come out properly. I'm assuming it was a baby mantis because it looked exactly like a mantis but much much smaller.

This isn't my picture but it looked exactly like this and about as small:

This is my picture. Sorry it's crappy.

" />

Posted: 10/4/2016 7:21:47 AM EST

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:

Cool pics.

I get a bunch of those guys and its creepy cousin, the Dobson Fly (not my pic), on my windows at night. Light attracts the smaller bugs, and smaller bugs attract these two.

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w529/afroney/Male%20Eastern%20Dobsonfly_zpsvv7koter.jpg

View Quote

THIS is Ceti Alpha V!!!