I don't know what will become of them. I hope they make it to nearby backyard ponds or the creeks, 2 blocks in either direction from our house. I just hope they survive to make more frogs, as that is my whole purpose of raising these little guys anyway. Well, that and I just love having them around here too.
So, I thank God and the good green earth for the days we had together and I move on....checking around at local pet shops and garden centers to see who can keep me in tadpoles. The circle of life.... blah, blah, blah.
In the meantime, there is joy...albeit on a much smaller scale:
the praying mantis eggs hatched!
By pure luck, I just happened to notice one on the window of the living room on Friday. I went to check and noticed that one of the eggs had hatched. See how the egg looks like it has sawdust coming from it (above photo)? That is where the babies chewed their way out of the egg.
The other egg was not like this, so I held out that we might see these babies newly hatched. Sure enough! Saturday afternoon found me checking......and there were babies everywhere!
So, life moves on in the back forty (feet). It always does. Oh, it gives me some time to sniffle a bit at the losses, but just when you are about to give up with caring, life comes back with some sunshine and happy to warm your heart again. And so we continue....
The new taddies are scheduled to arrive in a few weeks.
18 comments:
I'm sorry the froggies left. I get upset when the magpies don't visit me on the terrace (which they usually do every morning).
I also get a regular kitty visitor now too and I miss her on those mornings she chooses not to come.
Those praying mantis babies are indeed very small!
Frogs are not the only creatures for whom wee brains and long legs are a dangerous combination. Just sayin'.
I note that all those cute little insects are headed downward. Now there's the spiral of life.
I love praying mantis. Taddies are in the koi pond but they have to be cagey because the koi like tadpole snacks.
Sorry to hear about the froggies. The praying mantis babies though! So cool! I am a complete nut for stuff like this. Remember the baby hummingbird I followed a few years ago? I wept for days at his death. Ah, nature....
I'm glad the babies hatched now to help ease a touch of the pain about the froggies. But I'm really sorry about those.
I'm sorry about the frogs, that's sad...but I guess the mild winter gave them a case of itchy feet.
I LOVE praying mantis! They are cooler than any frog any old day of the week.... Just adore watching them walk in their robotic fashion. Hope you can get pics of one... they can be elusive.
Well, if the frogs were there when the manti hatched....
munch, munch, munch
So perhaps it was a cosmic happening.
I had a hatch in the house once. Little praying manti everywhere you looked. Drove the cats insane. Hundreds of 'em!
Sorry about the frogs! Those little baby mantises are so cute!
Nothing say "Love" more than lavishing affection on creepy babies.
Sorry about the froggies! The tadpoles will be here soon and make you feel all better.
I didn't know much about praying mantis... just as I didn't know much about frogs 'til I started dropping by here. I must say that was interesting and yucky. LOL... I didn't know so many hatch at once and have actually never seen a baby one.
Thanks for teaching me something today!
WOW!! This photos are SO COOL!! Thanks for sharing. My kids loved it.
Frogs come, frogs go. They seem to be very fickle creatures.... maybe they are scared of the fake blue heron?? I hope you enjoy your new tadpoles. :)
sorry about the frogs. way cool on the baby praying mantis though
I am so excited about the little mantis babies!!! I want some! When I get a house I am going to order them or something.
I was thinking maybe you could build a tiny froggy fence around the perimeter of the yard. Something they would think was too tall to hop over?
That's exciting about the praying mantis babies! Sorry about the frogs though. Hope the taddies know to not leave home!
Duni--Yeah, it's hard to lose animal friends, you know? They're wild, so I have to expect it, but it's still hard.
Vanilla--Right you are, Vanilla! :) They were jumping all over the place. I think they eat their siblings, so they keep moving.
Highway--This is my first year finding praying mantis eggs--it was very exciting to see. I'm so easily entertained. Good to know you are protecting the taddies!
Betty--I hate baby bird season. I do. Too much death. I really hope I don't find a frog dead--that would be too sad for me.
Liz--2 year old frogs usually leave. I just thought they would stick around with the male. Apparently not. :(
Silver--Naw, they were mature--2 years old. For some reason, I always lose them at that age. But I never get used to them leaving.
Diane--Oh, we find them around a LOT. They are sorta creepy--they look at you like they are gonna eat you! EEEEK! I like frogs and caterpillars better I think.
Patty--Oh NO! I can't imagine what a mess that was!! I know how many there are! WOW!
Diana--Yeah, the frogs have got me down. I have one left....well...I think so anyway.
Chuck--I think it's just love for life in general and the excitement of finding something so cool happening right here in the yard.
Petula--Oh, and the best part?? They eat their siblings! If they don't get the heck outta there--they are lunch! That's a good story for the kids. ;)
Rebecca--The frogs always seem to leave when they mature--whether there is a male in the pond or not. The heron is not out yet--I have to watch heron mating season to avoid bringing more to our pond. I can't keep up with all this nature! I'm glad your kids like the photos. It was really cool to see.
Ann--Yeah, they are pretty cool. The mantis--NOT the frogs. I'm disappointed in them. :(
Lauren--We bought a couple eggs years ago at a garden center. You can mail order them, I know. These must have come from that egg all those years ago. Now we have praying mantis all around the yard. It's sort of cool to learn about them.
Beaded Tail--Yeah, the frogs got me down. I just worry about them ending up like Flat Stanley. :( I've got to find some happy again in the yard. I think I have about 2000 happies now! :P
EEp...frogs. Sigh. Good thing you get some new babies though!
I love how they are just marching along the stem!
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