TW INSECT FEEDING PICS: CHINESE MANTIS VERSUS GIANT-ASS GRASSHOPPER!! CAN HE DO IT?!?! I keep forge

TW INSECT FEEDING PICS: CHINESE MANTIS VERSUS GIANT-ASS GRASSHOPPER!!
CAN HE DO IT?!?!

I keep forgetting to share these pics from like 2 months ago… I found a HUGE grasshopper when hunting for mantis food, and decided to give Motaro (F, L8, Chinese Mantis) the chance to take it down. And he did. Instantly. Before the grasshopper could even jump out of the cup. Those huge, powerful grasshopper legs were no match for the deathgrip of an adult mantis. RIP cute buggie.

I also wanted to test how much of it Motaro would actually eat, since the grasshopper was BIGGER than Motaro. In the end, I had to actually pull away the last leg of the grasshopper because I could see that Motaro reached his limit, but was still going to try and stuff it in, and I didn’t want to see my baby burst. I did make sure to check on him all the next day, too, and here I am about 2 months later, and Motaro just laid an infertile ootheca, so I feel good about giving him this grasshopper, (and about taking the last leg away - meaning, I didn’t injure him by giving him this BIG opportunity.)

It is truly amazing what these animals can do, (and it’s fortunate for humanity that they are no bigger than our hands.)
…
Also, why is grasshopper blood dark blue?!

#mantis #mantises #mantids #prayingmantis #preyingmantis #chinesemantis #tenoderasinensis #mantidsofinstagram #bug #bugs #insect #insects #insectkeeping #insectpets #bugkeeping #grasshopper #insectfeeding
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