Oxyothespis dumonti fresh nymphs! (North African Grass Mantis)

Precarious · Jan 3, 2012

One of my 3 ooths hatched 7 nymphs yesterday. Then a straggler dropped out a few minutes ago.

They are pretty tiny so I had to use my extension tubes to get the super close ups. That means these aren't my best pics, and shows why I need the Canon MP-E 65mm lens! If anyone wants to buy it for me I will give you some free mantids. It's only $950. :blink:

Here they are soon after hatch...

Precarious · Jan 3, 2012

And this is what they look like the next day.

Size reference...

They are very jumpy with their little grasshopper-like rear legs.

Precarious · Jan 3, 2012

I transfered them to a new home with springtails but also added melanogaster fruit flies.

One was brave enough to grab one!

SilentDeviL · Jan 3, 2012

Wow Nice Pic's cool look Mantis Keep this updated waiting to see more .

twolfe · Jan 3, 2012

Nice! And that's a cool looking mantis. That fly looks so big compared to the mantis, and I know how tiny those flies actually are.

Is that your finger? If so, your fingernail is cleaner than mine right now.

dlemmings · Jan 4, 2012

very nice pics, I am always trying to get good close ups of my gals & guys...thanks for posting

lunarstorm · Jan 4, 2012

Awesome, glad you didn't have duds! I especially liked the size reference shot, amazing that one *did* eat a d. mel.!

rs4guy · Jan 4, 2012

Great shots as always!

myzticalboi · Jan 4, 2012

Nice looking mantis right there. Great pictures!

bobericc · Jan 4, 2012

i like the eyes!

Precarious · Jan 4, 2012

Thanks everyone!

bobericc said:
i like the eyes!

Yeah, that's what got me. That's why I wanted them. Will be fun to watch them grow up.

Idolofreak · Jan 4, 2012

Congrats and good luck with them!

meaganelise9 · Jan 4, 2012

Yay! I knew they'd hatch. Thanks for posting these. It's so much more than I can see with the naked eye (and my eyes aren't good). They'll stop being so jumpy in a week or so.

Precarious · Jan 4, 2012

Tammy Wolfe said:
Is that your finger? If so, your fingernail is cleaner than mine right now.

That's actually my little toe. I have to use both hands for the camera so I put the nymph on my toe and lean in. I have unnaturally long toes so I use them a lot for holding mantids and other stuff like pealing bananas and brushing my teeth.

Just kidding.

Yeah, that's my index finger. I take a fair amount of photos and videos with my hands in them. I don't want to look all grubby so I try to keep them clean. Plus I hate to get my hands dirty. I'm not a germaphobe or anything (bring it on, germs!) but I wash my hands often.

yen_saw · Jan 4, 2012

Very nice close up Henry, thanks for sharing!

Chivalry · Jan 5, 2012

Oh my gosh... for some reason the fingernail pic didn't impress their tininess upon me as much as the fruit fly pics. WOW.

Precarious · Jan 11, 2012

More hatch photos...

And some (grainy) pics from 5 days later, eating a small melanogaster fruit fly...

frogparty · Jan 11, 2012

THE LAST PIC MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THE LITTLE FELLA IS LICKING ITS LIPS!!

Mvalenz · Jan 11, 2012

These mantids look really cool. Great pics.

Oxyothespis dumonti fresh nymphs! (North African Grass Mantis)

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