So here's this praying mantis, a female Mantis religiosa, tucked beneath a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville garden.

She's as still as a stone, and you know how still stones are.

Along comes a honey bee, Apis mellifera. She's packing a load of orange pollen. She lands on the blossom and begins foraging.

She does not see the mantis, commonly known as "the European mantis."

The mantis sees her.

What happened?

Well, Ms. Bee continued to forage, oblivious to the predator and the pending danger, and then buzzed away.

Ms. Mantis remained as still as a stone.

And then, she, too, took flight...in the opposite direction.

No prayers answered today--for the mantis.