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Late Summer Mantis!

BY: @mweich | CREATED: Oct. 17, 2022, 4:37 a.m. | VOTES: 141 | PAYOUT: $45.25 | [ VOTE ]

It is late summer here in Japan and that means that the season for macro photography, at least of insects and spiders is coming to a close. However, before that happens, some of the biggest invertebrates are out and ready to get photographed!
Yesterday, I had the great fortune of finding an adult praying mantis amongst the orange cosmos blossoms!
[IMAGE: https://i.imgur.com/t3m3XWm.jpg]
The lighting was great, showing off the colours of the flowers and the sharp details of the mantis' carapace!

A few moments after taking the shot above, the mantis caught a bee!
[IMAGE: https://i.imgur.com/coN7Ao4.jpg]
I like the way it's somewhat hiding the prey item, as though it's a bit shy.

Closer in we can just make out the powdery combs on the bees legs where it collects pollen to bring back to the hive:
[IMAGE: https://i.imgur.com/fIpCKGz.jpg]
And the details of the mantis' throat!

Across the footpath another hunter was patiently waiting:
[IMAGE: https:/i.imgur.com/snU6Cbn.jpg]

And bit earlier in the month this large mantis was also hunting in the same patch of cosmos blossoms:
[IMAGE: https://i.imgur.com/xIAsw7y.jpg]

Thank you for taking time to visit my post!

TAGS: [ #photographylovers ] [ #photography ] [ #macro ] [ #oc ] [ #garden ] [ #animals ] [ #nature ]

Replies

@castleberry | Oct. 17, 2022, 6:24 a.m. | Votes: 1 | [ VOTE ]

Fantastic shots! Watching them eat is bizarre. Thanks for sharing!

@mweich | Oct. 17, 2022, 6:56 a.m. | Votes: 0 | [ VOTE ]

Thank you! Yeah, without venom or a powerful initial bite to dispatch the prey item, mantis just grab it and start chewing away! It's comforting knowing that even the biggest mantis isn't larger than your hand.

@kesityu.fashion | Oct. 17, 2022, 10:37 a.m. | Votes: 1 | [ VOTE ]

The closer you look at them the scarier they seem... those shots are awesome!!:)

@mweich | Oct. 17, 2022, 2:11 p.m. | Votes: 0 | [ VOTE ]

Thank you very much! Yes, the small world is quite frightful!

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