Tropidomantis tenera (1st instar) eating Drosophila melanogaster
Portia (Jumping Spider) - 3rd/4th instar (1-2mm)
Idolomantis diabolica (Giant Devil's Flower Mantis)
Lovely Elizabeth Memorial
Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) (Adult) takes down and devours a large locust
Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid Mantis) (3rd instar) - "Orchid in a Rose"
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii (Spiny Flower Mantis) - 1 day hatchlings (1st instar)
Rhombodera basalis (Giant Malaysian Shield Mantis) (7th instar)
Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid Mantis) (3rd instar)
Phyllothelys werneri (Giant Ghost Mantis) Pairing - Antennae play & Disaster!
Phyllocrania paradoxa (Female Ghost Mantid) (6th instar)
Ameles spallanzania (European Dwarf Mantis) (1st instar)
Sibylla pretiosa (The Cryptic mantis) (3rd instar)
Sibylla pretiosa (The Cryptic mantis) (3rd instar)
Part 1 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (The Stand Off)
Part 2 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (The Strike and feast)
Part 3 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (Get comfy for the feast)
Part 4 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust - Mouthparts in action
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Tropidomantis tenera (1st instar) eating Drosophila melanogaster
Transparent Tropidomantis tenera (1st instar) eating Drosophila melanogaster. You can actually see the fly sliding down the prothorax of the mantis - Awesome! -
Portia (Jumping Spider) - 3rd/4th instar (1-2mm)
Tried to get some serious macro footage of this little beauty with the old MPE-65mm. As you'll see, it was a real struggle trying to get some clear footage. But even though it was a bit shaky, i managed to get some footage at 5x magnification....didn't help that they kept running and jumping away, ha ha.....will try again when they're a little bigger 😀 -
Idolomantis diabolica (Giant Devil's Flower Mantis)
Male moult to adult - Slideshow video -
Lovely Elizabeth Memorial
My memorial to one of the most charismatic and beautiful jumping spiders i ever owned 🙂 Sadly missed! Plexippus petersi (Common Housefly Catcher) - Jumping Spider (Adult) -
Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) (Adult) takes down and devours a large locust
Music by Keith Bird (L-X-N-TRiK) - 'The Locust Antidote' & 'Sandy Hook' -
Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid Mantis) (3rd instar) - "Orchid in a Rose"
One of the most beautiful, and sought after mantids in the hobby....just chillin' 🙂 -
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii (Spiny Flower Mantis) - 1 day hatchlings (1st instar)
1 day old P. wahlbergii nymphs just finding their feet 🙂 -
Rhombodera basalis (Giant Malaysian Shield Mantis) (7th instar)
Malay grooming and generally being a devilishly handsome chap! 😀 -
Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid Mantis) (3rd instar)
Brad the cool surfer dude Orchid Mantis doing his 3rd most favourite thing....cleaning the antennae 😀 -
Phyllothelys werneri (Giant Ghost Mantis) Pairing - Antennae play & Disaster!
Phyllothelys werneri (Giant Ghost Mantis) - Fascinating antennae interplay during courtship & disastrous consequences. -
Phyllocrania paradoxa (Female Ghost Mantid) (6th instar)
Jadzia cleans antennae 🙂 -
Ameles spallanzania (European Dwarf Mantis) (1st instar)
Chowing down on a Drosophila melanogaster. These tiny nymphs are super small, only slightly larger than the D. melanogaster they're eating (~1-2mm). -
Sibylla pretiosa (The Cryptic mantis) (3rd instar)
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Sibylla pretiosa (The Cryptic mantis) (3rd instar)
Face to Face -
Part 1 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (The Stand Off)
Monty sizes up his prey and contemplates his next move! -
Part 2 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (The Strike and feast)
Monty strikes and makes a start..... -
Part 3 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust (Get comfy for the feast)
Monty moves the locust to a more comfortable position so he can really get stuck in! Here we have a nice front shot of Monty's head as he tucks in to the locusts' head! -
Part 4 - Hierodula membranacea (Giant Asian Mantis) and Locust - Mouthparts in action
Monty shows us how perfectly adapted the Mantid mouth-parts are for tearing up the flesh of prey! Awesome!