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Praying mantis attack


Praying mantis attack
Photo Information
Copyright: Robi rdfoto (rdfoto) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: canon, MP-E 65, SanDisk CFExtreme4gb
Exposure: f/16, 1/50 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): portfolio of a killer [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-11 0:19
Viewed: 731
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Like all insects, a praying mantis has a head atop the body, an abdomen housing vital organs at the other end and, in between, the thorax.
The head of the praying mantis is triangularly shaped. The eyes of the mantis bulge large and round from the sides of the head. The large eyes of the praying mantis are made even more effective by the mantis’s ability to rotate the head 360 degrees.
The mouth of the praying mantis is made for chewing and biting. There is an upper and lower jaw as well as palps along the sides.
Sitting atop the head of the praying mantis are its two long antennae that are used for navigation.
The praying mantis is deaf to most sounds (those not ultrasonic) and there are no ears on the head (Yager and May).
The torso of the praying mantis, consisting of the thorax and abdomen, is much elongated in size. The thorax is very long and thin. The legs and wings connect to it.
According to Yager and May, the praying mantis has one single ear in the middle of the thorax on the underside. This single ear, which is a deep slit inside the thorax allows it to hear ultrasonic sounds.
The rear of the torso is covered by two sets of wings for flying. These wings lie one on top of the other and fan outwards during flight.
The praying mantis, like most insects, has six jointed legs. The rear four legs are the main walking legs of the praying mantis. These legs are longer than the front two. The front two legs are shorter and set in a “praying position.” These legs are lined with spines and end with sharp hooks for capturing and killing prey.
Praying mantises have the ability to adapt their color to their surroundings. This camouflage of earth tones, ranging from a dark brown to a bright green, allows the praying mantis to blend in and wait for its prey.
Praying mantises, with their huge compound eyes, can see extremely well. Sight is the only sense they use in hunting prey and for navigation.
Praying mantises are not born with the ability to fly. As nymphs, they do not have wings. However, after several molting periods, once they mature they are able to fly. Gravid females cannot fly because of the added weight of developing eggs.
Praying mantises can be found in all parts of the world that are not snow covered for a majority of the year. Praying mantises enjoy living in areas filled with plant life because their camouflage is most effective here and other insects (prey) dwell in these surroundings as well. Praying mantises will spend most of their time in a garden, in the forest, or in another vegetated area.
Being a carnivorous insect, the praying mantis feeds primarily on other insects such as flies, butterflies, crickets, moths and spiders. However, it is not uncommon for larger mantises to consume small reptiles and even small mammals or birds
Maite, clnaef, Silke, elfriki, SelenE, marhowie, izler, anel, cicindela has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anel: Bonjour Annerdfoto 1 11-19 08:48
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1028 W: 285 N: 3429] (11374)
  • [2007-11-11 0:23]

Good morning Robi,
a very impressive portrait. Particularly, I like the fine structural details of the antennae which are seen due to exact focusing and high sharpness. Point of view is perfectly selected to show the different parts of the head including mouth parts, eyes and antennae.
Best wishes, Peter

Bonjour Robi,
très impressionnante effectivement, cette mante religieuse n'a pas l'air d'humeur jouette !!!!
Les couleurs sont vives et magnifiques, j'aime beaucoup le background orangé qui fait bien ressortir les vert de l'insecte, excellent focus et très belle composition,
bravo
amicalement,
Pat

Amazing shot, Robi, so close and so brilliant colours. These eyes are so beautiful, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda
Ich vergesse immer dass Du perfekt Deutsch kannst. Da kann ich viel besser schreiben was ich denke - diese Gottesanbeterin ist unbeschreiblich schön und schaurig, so wie sie uns ansieht. Was gäbe ich dafür wenn ich auch mal so eine vor die Linse bekäme ...

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1005 W: 64 N: 1242] (5082)
  • [2007-11-11 4:17]

WOW!
Stunning and bloodcurling close-up!! Really impressive and excellent portrait. I didn't know the ability of Praying mantises to adapt their color. It's curious how this guy seems to be looking at you with a wicked intent :)
Magnificent job!
Greetings
Maite

Hi Roby, mazing portrait of splendid mantis in action with great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Bonjour,
Voilà une mante qui est prête à attaquer le photographe
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-11-11 7:14]

Fabulous!
He looks quite threatening from this PoV!
superb colours and details, perfect composition with a fine diagonal
TFS
silke
Thanks for your kind critique of my "Lest We Forget"

bonjour robi
c'est vrai que je n'aimerais pas etre un criquet face a ce monstre.
le contact avec les yeux est excellent,on dirait vraiment qu'elle nous a choisit pour le 4 heures.
bonnes couleurs et bons details.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2007-11-11 10:02]

Bonjour Robi,
Superb close macro of the front of a Praying Mantis with excellent sharpness and detail of the head and antennae.
Good use of flash.
Well done and TFS!
Amicalement,
Ivan

Great Shot Robi!! It looks like she doesn't have many friends. The expression on her face is terrifying.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2422 W: 63 N: 3988] (12860)
  • [2007-11-11 23:26]

Bonjour Robi,
I liked the pose you captured. Focus, sharpness, lighting and color tones are very nice.
Merci
Amicalement,
Selen

bonjour Robi,
brrr, ça donne froid dans le dos....
superbe macro, impressionnant, j'ai lu la note elle tout aussi impressionnante que ta macro,
magnifique netteté
bien à toi
Nadine

Hi Robi.
Stunning exposure, sharpness and detail on the head of this praying mantis, wonderful close-up.

Kathleen

Bonjour Robi,

Excellent focus sur la tête de cette mante.Les détails sont fins et les couleurs bien saturées.
Merci

Servane

Excellent mantid head shot Robi.
The head is clear & sharp with nice details, good use of flash to fill..
Well composed with a very good POV and nice color,
Great shot!
Howard

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1325 W: 79 N: 916] (8534)
  • [2007-11-18 10:55]

selam robi
woowww great portrait photo of this handsome mantis ;)
composition, point of view, lighting, colours, sharpness and details are great
thanks for sharing
regards
izler

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1238 W: 0 N: 2222] (9356)
  • [2007-11-19 2:06]
  • [+]

Bonjour Robi,
Quel portrait! On ne peut dire qu'elle a l'air amical. Alors je ne suis pas étonnée de lire que les mantes s'attaquent même à des lézards ou des petits oiseaux. Portrait tout à fait réussi et aux belles couleurs. Il semble que tu aies pas mal de travail!
Amitiés
Anne

Bonjour Robi
La netteté de ta photo la rend presque effrayante...
Merci pour cette prise de vue
Amicalement
Laurent

Hola Rob,
Excelente macro con acertada composición, mostrando con claridad los detalles de la cara, ojos y antenas. La luz y colores son muy bonitos, saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693] (5741)
  • [2007-11-28 13:49]

Salut robi
waow quel portrait menacant ! bons détails et superbe couleur verte intense. Esthétiquement il y a mieux :) mais l'image est instructive et bien réalisée.

gaetan

Hi Robi!
Great portrait with very good details! I like a lot this close-up which presents all important details of this predatory insect. You kept here a really good "eye contact" :)
Best withes,
Radomir

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