- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Published on: November 8, 2018
Henrietta, our Stagmomantis limbata praying mantis, perches on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia).
She is as patient as she is persistent.
The drone fly, aka syrphid and also known as a hover fly or flower fly, makes the fatal mistake of touching down on the same blossom.
Henrietta eyes it hungrily. Faster than a blink of the eye, she snares it, clutching it between her spiked forelegs.
"Well, of course, I like drone flies," she appears to be saying, between mouthfuls. "Thank you for asking."
Praying mantids are not known for their table manners. It's grab, hold and eat.
The cycle of life in the garden.
![Henrietta, our Stagmomantis limbata praying mantis, lies in wait on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia.) (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) Henrietta, our Stagmomantis limbata praying mantis, lies in wait on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia.) (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56362.jpg)
Henrietta, our Stagmomantis limbata praying mantis, lies in wait on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia.) (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
![A drone fly (syrphid) lands on the blossom as a hungry praying mantis watches intently. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) A drone fly (syrphid) lands on the blossom as a hungry praying mantis watches intently. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56363.jpg)
A drone fly (syrphid) lands on the blossom as a hungry praying mantis watches intently. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
![One quick move and praying mantis has dinner. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) One quick move and praying mantis has dinner. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56364.jpg)
One quick move and praying mantis has dinner. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
![The spiked forelegs hold the prey in place. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) The spiked forelegs hold the prey in place. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56365.jpg)
The spiked forelegs hold the prey in place. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
![It's eat and be eaten in the garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) It's eat and be eaten in the garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56366.jpg)
It's eat and be eaten in the garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
![Henrietta the praying mantis polishes off the last of the fly but a wing is visible evidence of what happened. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) Henrietta the praying mantis polishes off the last of the fly but a wing is visible evidence of what happened. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/56367.jpg)
Henrietta the praying mantis polishes off the last of the fly but a wing is visible evidence of what happened. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Focus Areas:
Tags: drone fly (15), Mexican sunflower (87), praying mantis (130), predator (26), prey (34), Stagmomantis limbata (38), syrphid fly (26), Tithonia (63)
Comments: 3
Comments:
by Fay
on November 9, 2018 at 4:14 AM
Great capture of the capture Kathy! Excellent!
by Win L Rogers
on November 9, 2018 at 7:52 AM
Wow. just Wow. Thank you for this.
by Jan G Fetler
on November 11, 2018 at 6:26 AM
Wonderful photos!
Leave a Reply: