The Flower Mantis is doing well in my tank and sure is a feisty fellow. As soon as I put my finger near him, he wants to bite it off. LOL!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zXpdeyueqR8a1-fA55pYjXjqxDtQyeVD4WzrfEh1JE6p07dhVtdyk4DgPaHwt5qpqmTkO-_DeK8LsCDL5WVAbogYhYegVNVhRJ7p7eSsGQ12kjjRuaDXkuAMrmqzjOFmQBcCCDmaAJgo/s320/1pIMG_17594.JPG)
One day I noticed three strange caterpillars in the tank too and I do not know where they came from.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbZqeYWjBTY0Y37HSx0QmkdY5dxmLlyjHkTpf2Lb3U_Su_K7MqWVt1iqJVqlbKDAW6ifYGcXDp7Hnrlv9cEZ7ahmVL7M6VfLyHlOyZvRPzjfIsPs6oKjnr-HCdMsb7wJJ2czBH9eqoBAE/s320/2cIMG_17582.JPG)
The only thing I can think of is that the
Emperor Moth I had in there some time ago laid eggs and these have hatched out.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPsbH9EmXaNAuzgfEf2LxOhu0M5Vv7oqCGhnKacpMg8IXpgUSSIX_H-Y2v3JBCZTlUmt4w61pOyq-ECng-z1GDFdSb5CllojxQek_b2xJLSrcN90nWgaGGRxV5MdIL6G8D9Lg33N5fe2u/s320/3c102_1668.jpg)
They remind me of the old time robbers who wore a mask over their eyes. I think the fruit fly was hitching a ride.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0dDpNSd9Sd4-GT-PyZ_ewR2wsavFczncWoz5yQ0Ce-rob8vXjowRuyXoBbCzUB0f__rqmj-94OUdJT5ZAaFRckt086MkUzNjRbr9jRudxZ3C6HCrnKm12XLAzA4fLEORKmQ1eANMK0_L/s320/4cIMG_17576.JPG)
I am keeping them and recording their progress to see what happens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd2eX6pmdlaeoRqn7jeuwQDcvH-PLkNDCn4wqc1hK-dHW2GDNsTBZl8D9_JhW-tRSA_8dUv5CpJup8IDh_TF7Oup53ZppBbYH2VkKo_Bq01-BWIdHm78Ybck8rbR0kFZlgLhSQ_2ovbLE/s320/5p102_1677.jpg)
There is just one slight problem!! The mantis, although a quarter of its size, keeps on trying to eat it!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZTOMMa6oMU3rHzo7o_qaDfIivklwzsGS0QY8luFkAiv9w16dTy_hsXjY_qqbWIVJJ8Z2rP32cfNWwwlWjKf9yeQFSIju8y6kZEtnGqW2UkNUEBxw7VD6NhSSBj-Xi3m9VbvUQJ-9tqZ8/s320/6p102_1678.jpg)
The caterpillar is much too clever and keeps on swaying his body away from the mantis.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdbltkkkh7NpgluUkPTz5Frr6Q2XZKaX65_hJVkHbxpCMkq1hEXIrYkOp-qbIdgSWnOwIc1vlH6OkW_cKVrFXoxggJHrom_Y9HKfS5UBsKzyVCK6ELxUEsZZn0aA2tLt9zeFenMQaH8Px/s320/7p102_1658.jpg)
I am sorry but some of these pictures are not very good but it will give you a good idea of what is happening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECMGVpce3Cfe4zDxStxpjszGszKrmeo4KX-3NSTihHHP9VwCkOck8CPo3jzC8JtQunkCyHQEgXsesnx_KVHcA5_1E-xVqYMthemdf8gKBQDO_gMTDk1Ft4hYD5i50uw8fNe6ChqkNbJPs/s320/8p102_1660.jpg)
The mantis is very persistent and keeps on trying to get him without much luck.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiyVwYHuRRJUKTKjkbSWG9dyWZ4B_NSs-BxLiiQAtKIXcAaZV5LOAQGpIjd2JLQeeJ8vJThem1GKub6HjVBJ4mRlqFwucIjD430lA0kq0XldC8VYXkZ-9SRDAg3D3QQEkWs7gwNXEuHWS/s320/9p102_1674.jpg)
Eventually the caterpillar had had enough and went into one of the corners to spin a cocoon around himself to guard against that pesky mantis.
2 comments:
Hi!
I am curious to know if this caterpillar did turn out to be a Monarch Moth?
Apologies, I meant to type Emperor Moth!
Monarch on the brain!
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