Praying for its Prey!

A praying mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlberg)

As I’ve never posted any photos of traditional flowers like roses, I decided to publish this today. I have several climbing roses across two of my boundary walls which do not need spraying with insecticide, and are low-maintenance. So they stay.

I also have three very sturdy bush roses in the garden near my house. Every October they bloom profusely for a six to eight weeks. In April they give me another spectacular show of colour. They, like their climbing cousins, never get sprayed and I get away with a little light pruning twice a year.

Last October I went outside to photograph the beautiful soft pink blooms on the bush visible from my office window. Imagine my delight when I spotted a praying mantis (Order Mantodea) on the rose. I took these photos.

I’d previously only seen green praying mantis (Sphodromantis gastrica) here in my garden. This one was a patterned brown and yellow, (Pseudocreobotra wahlberg) with eye-like markings (ocelli) on its forewings so it was a really special sighting.

A praying mantis spends much of its time sitting motionless with its forelegs held up in an attitude of prayer. What this cunning carnivore is “praying for" is simply that a fly, spider or beetle will settle within arm’s reach. Then the powerful forelegs fringed with spines and with the force of a pair of pliers, pounce into action. The mantis’ sturdy jaw soon reduces the prey to a mince. Even bees and wasps are consumed.

There are 120 species in Southern Africa. The large green mantis is a regular visitor to gardens. Since it feeds on other insects it performs a useful horticultural service.

So it depends where you are in the food chain whether you steer clear of the praying mantis or not!