Mantis meets cricket, with predictable results...(pic)

[Ecooper]

My blog today features a series of photos of my new European mantis (Mantis religiosa) feeding on a domestic cricket. I hadn’t kept a mantid for many years and had forgotten just how interesting they are. It is fascinating how incredibly efficient and fast they are at consuming a good sized insect.

If you are squeamish about bug guts you might want to avoid looking at the picture below. Somehow I don’t think that will be a problem for the folks on this forum!

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

feeding mantid 7 copyright Ernie Cooper 2012_filtered by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

 

[hierodula]

Great quality dude

 

[Ecooper]

Great quality dude

Thanks!

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[aNisip]

yeah! awesome detail! Your pictures are always awesome

 

[OctoberRainne]

Id this the european? I like the pink tones its got on the head,and really clean pic

 

[twolfe]

Looks nice and juicy.

Great image. Nice and sharp and I like the lighting. Did you use a whitebox to make this image?

 

[angelofdeathzz]

How many stacks is that? Very nice capture!

 

[Ecooper]

yeah! awesome detail! Your pictures are always awesome

Wow! Thank you!

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Ecooper]

Id this the european? I like the pink tones its got on the head,and really clean pic

Yep, identified as European mantis with help from folks on this site.

Thanks!

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Ecooper]

Looks nice and juicy.

Great image. Nice and sharp and I like the lighting. Did you use a whitebox to make this image?

Thanks! Yes, a whitebox made from foam core and illuminated with a vivitar 283 flash.

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Ecooper]

How many stacks is that? Very nice capture!

Thanks! It isn't a stacked image. I shot at F22 to maximize the depth of field.

Cheers,

EC

www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[Webeviction]

Great stuff as usual man! Keep'em comin!!

 

[fleurdejoo]

Mmm the gooey center.

 

[gfsward]

I checked out your website and your photographs are just AMAZING!

May I ask what type of camera you use?