OMG, Killer Bug!

[wraithfodder]

I was coming back from shopping. I bought a little pot of miniature sunflowers (which will spend a lot of time in the kitchen so the squirrels/chipmunks/etc./etc./etc. don't devour it) and was coming up the driveway when suddenly - eek!  the creature bounded onto the dashboard and began beating its arms against the windshield, trying to get out. So I stopped the car and got my camera out.


Cute little fellow!


Then he went to side window. "Let me out!" I could imagine him/her screaming.


Once outside, it was happy. Very happy. It didn't seem to mind me at all. Was fascinated by the camera - kept crawling all over it. I released it on a tree full of leaves where it rapidly just vanished amongst the greenery.



Oh, and here's one sunflower bloom.

And then, I was in the garden weeding (never-ending job) when suddenly, a flurry of sounds like something beating against a bush. Then a young hawk flew off. Think it got a chipmunk, of which we have.... too many. Didn't see any bird feathers (usually a few or more left in an attack) so.... bye bye chippie...

Oh, and saw a doe and a young buck in yard yesterday morning. Beautiful...


In fact, here's a picture of a deer (they all sorta look alike to me, except my 3-legged deer, who I saw last week).

Comments

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I see those praying mantises regularly...........weird to say the least
Today I went out in the courtyard to do watering, hot today and tomorrow, mid 80s beginning on Tuesday so they say........
and then did some minor gardening....
It is shaded in AM but by afternoon baking......but we are blessed not to be having triple digits like so much of US now

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Don't think we hit triple digits but darned close. I haven't seen a praying mantis in wow, a decade? I'd love to have more around here. They're such curious critters.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

They're such curious critters.

YES they certainly are.........
I am deeply concerned for some of the wildlife
A good example are the frogs....
In so many areas they have literally disappeared due largely to the
use of herbicides and pesticides...BUT
I have an ole bull frog somewhere nearby. I can sit at my computer with the doors and windows closed and hear him still......when it is raining.
It just tickles me...would love to get a look at him, but wouldn't it be a hoot if he is just a small guy with a big voice???
>;-)
The praying mantis I see are of a different species. Not as bright green.
I love seeing it all in my courtyard........
I remember as a kid when we lived in Maryland and dad introduced us to lightning bugs. I was enchanted by them............

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I have barely heard tree frogs this year, which is disturbing. I know it's dry, but still.... and yeah, people pesticide and herbicide the heck out of everything and then wonder why they get cancer...

ooh, lightning bugs. I see them when I'm outside and the skeeters don't get me.

[abracah.livejournal.com]

I was taking the kids at school out the other day and in our staircase that has a huge window there was a tiny praying mantis. It was just hanging on the ledge. We scooped it up on my clipboard and put it outside. The kids were so excited that we rescued it.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Nice!

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love those bugs. They are so cute and the way they look at you and track where and how you move.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yup, definitely. I'd love to have them around all the time.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

BTW the mantis in your third pix looks like he's wearing shaded goggles. .
>;-)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

He does, doesn't he? Very cool mantis ;)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Aww, poor little bug, trapped in that big moving thing.

We haven't gotten blooms on our sunflowers, yet, and the things are towering. My sister is getting rather annoyed about it, since they're her flowers.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

My sunflowers that I planted (three times) are now about 3" tall. Half were devoured already. I've given up on growing them so I bought some...

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I love mantids,but am always just a little too nervous to pick them up. They do watch us with such intelligence, don't they? Cool deer too.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It crawled on to me, and it very attracted to the camera (which is red). Wonder if the red was attractive or just the camera...? Adorable thing.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Very cool.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Thanks.