Awesome Empusa .. one of my best photos 2:1

jorgemotalmeida · Post by **jorgemotalmeida** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:44 pm

Hi

I love this mantid Empusa pennata. It is a nymph. This mantid praying is very cryptic. Indeed this specie is very rare to see, at least, here.

I took this photo on 26th November 2006. (yes, we can find these critters even near Winter! but just in more warm time.

)

highly recommended to see this bigger:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/3069 ... d0d1_b.jpg

you can see ommatidia in the eyes.

This mantid was one of the most beautiful things I've seen so far. I have two (crap...) videos on youtube of this mantid.

nephiliim · Post by **nephiliim** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:58 pm

Really good shot there Jorge.
Offworldly features. Good stuff.

All the best,

Tom B

jorgemotalmeida · Post by **jorgemotalmeida** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:54 pm

nephiliim wrote:Really good shot there Jorge.
Offworldly features. Good stuff.

All the best,

Tom B

thanks.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:19 pm

Well, I gotta say this guy is amazing. I have never seen a praying mantis quite like this one. Very nice photo Jorge.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:27 pm

Wow Jorge, that is a wild looking mantid

Appears as though something out of the movies, I would like to find one like that around here. Great shot!

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:32 pm

Excellent angle on the shot and good detail too - one that makes you stop and take a really hard look! The link to larger image is definitely worth checking out.

Nice one Jorge.

Bruce

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:43 am

Very nice mantis with crown. Some chief of the devils appearance.

I didn't see this species in live. Is it native?

Actually, Empusa pennata females are very kind, they do not kill their mates when pairing. Nice girls, I appreciate that.

Also empusid mantis survive the winter months as young nymphs and they are relatively long-lived insects, if I remember well what I read once.

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:30 am

Macroluv,

"Empusa pennata females are very kind, they do not kill their mates"

That makes a change! If you do your best for women they still bite your head off!

DaveW

jorgemotalmeida · Post by **jorgemotalmeida** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:35 am

@beetleman: this praying mantis is rare to find in North. They like more warmer time, so it is more easy to find them in the South.

@Ken Ramos: remember this mantis is very cryptic. I saw it just WHEN I passed by it! I saw it using lateral vision!!!!

It was moving a little. It was a mistake of praying mantis.

@Bruce Williams: the shot would be supreme, with another background. Yes, I told that bigger phot is much better to see details.

@MacroLuv: It is spread in southern countries, but darn... it is very hard to find them. Yes, this mantid is nymph, it had no wings yet. Now, the adults must be appear in some more weeks from now.

@DaveW: yes! lol