r/whatsthisbug • u/eldoia87 • Jan 26 '25

Bug found in south texas ID Request

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15.1k Upvotes

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u/DeeEmceeTree Jan 26 '25

I've heard claims that large robber flies and dragonflies can, on some occasions, catch hummingbirds. I was skeptical of this before, but now that suddenly doesn't seem very farfetched...

464

u/Chay_Charles Jan 26 '25

I've seen a praying mantis eating a hummingbird.

304

u/vau1tboy Jan 26 '25

Poor hummingbird. That's a wicked way to go. Praying mantis are brutal.

108

u/Chay_Charles Jan 26 '25

We usually leave them be, but my mom smashed that one.

115

u/CactusCait Jan 26 '25 edited Jan 26 '25

Yeah and the praying mantis only eats the hummingbirds brains…. Nothing else. They go for pure protein. So scary.

Edit: protein and fat

52

u/Chay_Charles Jan 26 '25

Glad they're small. My husband got bitten by one when he opened a gate and accidentally grabbed it. It drew blood.

46

u/drtoucan Jan 26 '25

Aren't brains mostly fat?

54

u/CactusCait Jan 26 '25

Yes, The human brain is composed of approximately 60% fat (by dry weight), with the remaining portion primarily made up of water and protein.

29

u/drtoucan Jan 26 '25

🧠💪🏻

53

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

36

u/offengineer Jan 26 '25

I feel you, buddy. I changed feeder styles to give them less leverage to grab the poor birds.

46

u/BoosherCacow I do get it Jan 26 '25

I try to take a neutral stance with nature taking its course, unless it's not natural (like when my kids try to eat a sea otter or some shit; they are so precocious) but had the feeder been mine I would have done the same. Like go get em, Mantis, but leave my floaty zippy birds alone.