On this cool, absurdly smoky Sunday in the middle of September, we give you the praying mantis.
Not native to the Okanagan, and still uncommon enough that many don't even know they're here, the praying mantis first appeared in the province and the region nearly a century ago, introduced in an attempt to control crop-hungry grasshoppers
But their diet extends far beyond that. They're carnivores, and they'll chow down on anything from other insects to small reptiles. They’ve even been known to eat hummingbirds, a factoid that doesn't exactly ingratiate the creature to the general public.
This particular mantis was spotted on Penticton's West Bench earlier this week, launching itself toward a nearby moth and then, piece by piece, consuming it over the course of almost a half hour.
Watching a praying mantis devour its prey through a macro lens, where every moment is magnified, is both grisly and fascinating. To some, it's undoubtedly a slow-motion horror show.
But to others, it's simply nature at work. And as far as insects go, the mantis is arguably more compelling than most.
So fragile, so seemingly alien in nature -- like a mini ET from some distant galaxy.
After its meal, the mantis resumed its classic prayer stance on a bush in an adjacent flower pot. It's barely moved ever since and still sits there today on Sunday, a traditional day of prayer for many.
