A Tool All Photographers of Mantids Should Have

[Krissim Klaw]

You all should have one toy, fluttering butterfly. Seriously, these toys are epic for getting your mantis to look in whatever direction you want them to. I've been using one I picked up at the dollar store for years now, and I thought I would share the super simple tool to make even the grumpiest mantis turn its frown upside down.

For those who don't know what I am talking about, they are simple little devices with a fabric or plastic shape butterfly attached to a wire and when the wire is shook it mimics the look of a fluttering butterfly.

 

[aNisip]

A lazer pointer works well too

 

[Krissim Klaw]

A lazer pointer works well too

Can you get them to look up at specific points in the air with that? I've seen mantises chase the dot but that was with the dot appearing on something. I'll admit on a side note I'm always paranoid I'll manage to blind myself with one of those things.

 

[aNisip]

yeah, just put a piece of tape on a skewer for a second...shine the light..they fix their attention to the light...then take the picture...