The praying mantis may resemble a harmless grasshopper from afar, but this relative of cockroaches and termites preys on mice and snakes as easily as it consumes its regular diet of insects.
There have been many reports of the mantis attacking small hummingbirds. After capturing the hummingbird with its front legs, the praying mantis would feast while its prey wreaths in the pain of being eaten alive. A Google or YouTube search will result in video recordings of such occurrences. You may not want to watch it if you're squeamish. And if you're not, look for the videos of the female mantis eating its mate alive.
