It was totally awesome when the first one jumped up and grabbed the larva! However–and correct me if I’m wrong–I suspect it was jumping up for a different reason: escape or defense perhaps. Finding food was just luck. Or are they really that aware and that active when hunting?
Beetles In The Bush 
It was totally awesome when the first one jumped up and grabbed the larva! However–and correct me if I’m wrong–I suspect it was jumping up for a different reason: escape or defense perhaps. Finding food was just luck. Or are they really that aware and that active when hunting?
Actually I think he jumped out of hunger-driven excitement! He may not have distinguished between the caterpillar and the forceps – it was all prey.
Normally they just run away if they feel threatened and only bite when actually grabbed.
NIce little puppies you got there Ted!
Just another exciting day in the MacRae household.
Great video. What else exciting is happening at the MacRae household/farm/zoo?
Lots of rearing going on – you’ll just have to stay tuned, cuz most of it is fodder for future posts 🙂
Just not a fair fight! Maybe next time the Manduca could get a laser strapped to its head…
I’m not sure even a laser could’ve saved him from those jaws x2!