Expedition to Tanzania (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Moshi, etc.)

[guapoalto049]

I recently took a trip to Tanzania for a month's time, completing some medical work, volunteer stuff, safari-ing, and of course a little hunting for bugs. I found 6-7 species of mantid, most of which I snapped pictures of. The one that got away was a male Pyrgomantis sp. found under the lights in Serengeti. I didn't have my camera at the time. I'll keep my mouth shut on the other species, though I am not positive on them I want to see what everyone's best guess is before I post my ideas.

Some type of Solifugid:

Giant slug in Lake Manyara NP:

 

[hibiscusmile]

Man! wow! oh get your hand away from the slug, what an ugly creature! you had me up till then ...LOL

 

[brancsikia339]

First two look like males of the sphodromantis sp.

First ooth looks like a ceratomantis saussurii! Those are awesome!

Second ooth looks like a peacock mantis? not sure!

The male after the ooths is a Tenodera superstitiosa (only tenodera found in africa)

Female looks like either Cilnia humeralis or taumantis sigiana

The two males are sphodromantis

And the last one is a sphodromantis

 

[massaman]

get to bring back any ooths

 

[sueb4653]

very nice pics I envy you being there for a month

 

[Precarious]

Nice! Was that Solifugid really purple?!?!? I love those things. Had a few as pets. I wish someone would figure out how to keep them alive in captivity.

 

[guapoalto049]

Thanks everyone! Yeah the solifugid was that color, I didn't do anything to change it. It was very small though.

 

[hibiscusmile]

second ooth def not peacock. they are big and look like have air in them.

 

[guapoalto049]

Yeah I'm thinking Hoplocorypha sp. for the green one, and some type of Danuria for the second

 

[Bartek]

for sure the bubble ooth is a Hoplocorypha and the second cant be Danuria... its some kind of small grass mantis

 

[guapoalto049]

Thanks Bartek, what is it about the second ooth makes you think it isn't a species of Danuria? This was my thinking: It has a very similar egg pattern, size, and shape to some other Danuria spp. oothecae I've seen, but the coloration was the only thing that was new to me.

 

[LLCoolJew]

Great pics! I always find the best bugs in Africa, but don't photograph them as nicely as you! Hope that you had an amazing time in Tanzania!!!!

 

[Mvalenz]

You are so lucky. Very nice pics. Did you bring any back.

 

[guapoalto049]

Thanks guys.

@CoolJew: I wish my camera took nice macros, but it only takes decent ones in bright light. These were all taken at night.

@Mvalenz: I am very lucky, you should see the other pics of the not-so-small animals! I didn't bring back any live mantids.

 

[guapoalto049]

@Mvalenz: Here is a taste =D

 

[rs4guy]

Thanks for sharing! I've been to South Africa three times, and plan to head to Gabon this winter for some safariing. Looks like you had a blast! Did see all of the Big 5?

 

[guapoalto049]

Yeah, all five. In a week's time we saw 47 lions (3 kills), 5 cheetah (1 kill, 3 cubs), 4 leopard (2 fighting over a kill), 2 black rhino mating, a water buffalo stampede, 100+ elephant, 100+ giraffe, 50+ hippo, 1 croc, a gazelle giving birth, and the Great Migration.

It was absolutely the time of my life!

 

[stacy]

Great pictures, thx for sharing