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Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ |
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Salvia |
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The 6 inch long monster |
I donned gloves, because I was a little scared that this monster mantis might grab my hands, and brushed at the bird until the praying mantis dropped it to the ground. The bird was alive, and we all examined the tiny body. On its chest, tiny white and gray feathers covered the pulsating heart, and emerald green feathers covered its head. It wasn’t bleeding, but some feathers were missing and its eyes were half open. I lay it on some pea shells to rest, and I tried to get it to drink some
hummingbird food, or to suck some nectar from a flower. As we watched, it opened its eyes fully, and then began to hold up its head. After about 10 minutes, it flew away while we were not watching it.
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While I took this photo, I worried that it might attack me! |
As far as I know, it survived the attack. I don’t think the mantis penetrated the bird’s skin; it was not bleeding. A week later, my mother said the insect is still living in the flowerbed where it must be hunting successfully.
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Eastern Lubber grasshopper |
We saw this Eastern Lubber grasshopper last weekend. It was about 4 inches long and the largest grasshopper I’ve ever seen.