Backyard Wildlife

[Canuck from Kansas]

Do they still use deer butt signs in PA. As I recall they came up with the idea of strategically placing illuminating signs of a deer's butt "flagging" (tail up). This was an alert to other deer that danger was on the horizon. I believe it was moderately successful in reducing the number of deer kills.

I have not seen those, sounds cool though.

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

I wish we had a praying mantis to watch at our house! We would be fascinated, too!

You can buy them at Lowes (by Alderwood Mall). They usually have them spring time thru early summer.

 

[tkww]

I'm having a bad aphid year. Kale, dill, and hellebore are taking the worst of it

I've pretty much stopped growing kale because of it. They won't bother much else, but they absolutely hammer my kale.

 

[Tom Butler]

I've pretty much stopped growing kale because of it. They won't bother much else, but they absolutely hammer my kale.

The aphids were really bad at out place earlier, then it seemed like we had ladybugs everywhere.
Matter of fact the mantis is having one for breakfast. It let two box elder bugs go yesterday, guess some shells make it difficult. Here it's tearing off the shell to get at the good stuff.

 

[Jim F.]

Box Elder Bugs exude a vile substance as a defensive measure. Smart mantid you have there!

 

[Tom Butler]

Went for a walk and the mantis was enjoying breakfast in the sun when I got home. I wonder if there was more of a struggle, looks to have clipped the moths wings.

 

[Tom Butler]

And a few hours later some greenish bug with long legs. What a pig!

 

[BriGuy]

And a few hours later some greenish bug with long legs. What a pig!
View attachment 189520

You know how this ends, don't you?

Eventually, a young male mantis will wander by your screen and notice the lady mantis. They'll court and mate. Afterwards, THE CRAZY FEMALE WILL TURN AROUND AND EAT THE MALE'S HEAD -- EYES AND ALL! Later that morning, you'll discover her licking the male's remains off her clawed forearms. She'll then look up at you and smile.

Don't get too attached...

 

[SpeyrodGB]

And a few hours later some greenish bug with long legs. What a pig!
View attachment 189520

Must be nice to have a bug zapper that doesn't use electricity.

 

[Tom Butler]

Oh boy, a second mantis appeared this morning.

 

[Buzzy]

Oh boy, a second mantis appeared this morning. View attachment 189666

"She mates and then she kills"....... maybe soon there will only be one mantis? ;-)

 

[Jim F.]

May give "hunger strike" a new meaning . . .