Tennis Balls!

I'd like to start a new thread of photos JUST featuring mantids on Tennis Balls! I've enjoyed such photo references on mantisplace, and thought it would be fun. I juuuust started, and picked a model WAAAAAY too small for my camera, but at least there's a fruit fly in there for scale... I'll have legitimate photos tonight...

Anyway... let the game begin!!!

L1 Rhombodera laticollis

I like! cute pic

he prob thinks he is on a golf course! :lol:

Cute little one! I have Rhombodera of various sizes that I got from Carey but not really sure what species they are, she says they are probably stalli. They sure are animated characters though. Really an interesting species to observe.

Hmm.... going to have to get some tennis balls.... :lol: :lol: the drool soaked ones just are not going to work...

So doggy won't give it up huh!

Reminds me, I found one the other day in a drawer in the Bugatorium, nice and new, and I brought it out an threw it on the floor, all the time wondering why I had it in there! then it struck me! photos!

Looks identical to my L1 chinese :huh:

Here's a few more for the thread (yeah, I know - I NEED to get my macro lens).

Idolomantis diabolica L1



Idolomantis diabolica L2



Creobroter pictipennis Adult Female



Creobroter pictipennis Adult Male



Brunneria borealis - L???

you know sporeworld, when you get that macro lens its a whole new addiction!

I am impressed with the size of an L1 Idolomantis diabolica!

likebugs said:

I am impressed with the size of an L1 Idolomantis diabolica!

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Oh, yeah! Takes down House Flies two days out of the ooth! L2 can take a Blue Bottle (I mean, he won't FINISH it, but he still gets the bragging rights...)

Alice said:

you know sporeworld, when you get that macro lens its a whole new addiction!

Click to expand...

I know. I know.

I had to get a 2tb hard drive when I first got the CAMERA! When I get the lens... Oh, my. Won't be sleeping for a while...

Sporeworld said:

I know. I know.

I had to get a 2tb hard drive when I first got the CAMERA! When I get the lens... Oh, my. Won't be sleeping for a while...

Click to expand...

:clap: :clap: I found a pink tennis ball!!! now just to hide it from the 100 pound lab with a drooling problem. :sweatdrop:

what kind of camera are you using sporeworld? we are an olympus family here. what ever camera you are using, i would suggest a good 50mm (to start!) not super expensive, but by far the lens we use the most!

I have a 35mm that i really like, but the working distance is not long enough, so back to the 50mm i went! the 100mm is a lot harder to use although has a great working distance, not as sharp as the 50mm.

I've got a Canon 5d Mark 2. But an average lens (24-105mm). Macro 0.45m/1.5ft. Whatever that means? I am NOT camera savvy. :blink:

Thanks spore now I'm off to the store to buy some tennis balls, or can I just use a basketball?

Funny...

OK, here's some more...

Idolomantis L3



Idolomantis L2 & L3



Idolomantis L1 & L2 & L3 (they would NOT sit still)

Obviously the ball has been marked specifically for this. "PRACTICE" :lol:

Sporeworld said:

I've got a Canon 5d Mark 2. But an average lens (24-105mm). Macro 0.45m/1.5ft. Whatever that means? I am NOT camera savvy. :blink:

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nice camera, i believe cannon makes a 65mm macro, i think that would be my choice! when lens shopping, just remember the lower the f number the better the lens glass= sharper pictures. the f stop on the lens you are using is probably 3.5?(just guessing) in a macro you want an f # to be 2 or lower. the smaller the number of course the higher the price. but the sharpness of the subject is worth the investment