mantis – Christian Sperka Photography

As we drove through some high grass during yesterday evening’s game drive my tracker Bheki collected this fighting pair from our vehicle’s front fender. The small spider and the small Praying Mantis were in a fight for their lives.

When we encountered the two contestants the spider was missing two front legs but he had one of the Praying Mantis’ legs firmly locked in his pincers. We were not sure if the spider lost his legs in this fight or if he entered the contest thus handicapped.

After a few minutes struggle the spider had won and the Praying Mantis had died. It was astonishing how quickly the strong green color faded from the dead creature.

We carefully transferred the winner with his price into a nearby acacia and continued on our drive.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 320 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+0.5 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 5% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

It might look like something from a science fiction movie, but is a small insect, a Praying Mantis.

This specimen took a ride on my vehicle for over 20 minutes. The Thanda guests enjoyed taking pictures of this little “alien” 🙂

PS: If you are male Praying Mantis you live very dangerously – see below!

About Praying Mantis:

Mantodea (or mantises, mantes) is an order of insects that contains over 2,400 valid species in 15 families worldwide. The English common name for any species in the order is “Praying Mantis”, because of the typical “prayer-like” posture with folded fore-limbs.

Sexual cannibalism is common among mantises in captivity, and may also be observed in the field. The female may begin feeding by biting off the male’s head, and if mating has begun, the male’s movements may become even more vigorous in its delivery of sperm. The male engages the female in courtship dance, to change her interest from feeding to mating.

Tag: mantis

Small Kill!

ET?