Thoughts and Preyers

This Preying Mantis is, as it turns out, waiting to catch and eat a hummingbird. But heroic Chris smacked it into the bushes with a flyswatter while screaming Not Today, Mother____r! Ok maybe not the last part. Anyway, I am sad to have yet another childhood hero fall. We used to occasionally see one on the screen door, and reverently, carefully observe it from the safety of the other side. Of course today  Mom reminded me that there is also a rather violent end to their reproductive act. Why did we like them anyway?