For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Stick Mantis

This mantis is about 2 1/2 inches in body length. The females are wingless.



34 comments:

Zane said...

I have not seen a stick mantis for many years - must start looking for one - lovely pictures Joan.

Diane said...

Joan these are beautiful pictures. I like warching all the mantis family, they are facsinating. Diane

A human kind of human said...

I looks so eh, eh... well, flat!
(lol) They usually melt in so well with their backgrounds that it is often difficult to spot them, but they are such interesting creatures. Liz did a school project on them when she was in grade 8 her project was used by quite a couple of younder friends after her until one year, the teacher told them that he does not want to see this project again because he now knows all he wishes to know about stock insects....

Tony nile life said...

Who pulled its antenai out.

Gaelyn said...

She is skinny as a stick.

Sciarada said...

Ciao carissima Joan, this is a insect enchanting

P.S. Hai visto che pessima figura ha fatto l'Italia del calcio? Brutta! Brutta! Brutta!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joan: Where does he put all that they eat?

Becky said...

I can see what you would pass right by these guys. I didn't know the gals didn't have wings.Interesting..
B.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Mantids are the one species of insects which really fascinated me Zane. Over the years I have found the most amazing specimens, each so very different to the other.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I have to agree with you Diane. Some of the leaf Manids look like creatures from outerspace.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! A good story Anne. Thanks for sharing it. The mantis come in the most amazing shapes.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It still has it Tony, it just looks like it is missing.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I wish I was too Gaelyn. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Ciao Sciarada. La mantide è una bella famiglia di insetti e alcuni di loro sono così ben camuffati da foglie e corteccia di un albero.

Non solo l'Italia ma la nostra squadra anche. Eravamo tutti sperando che farebbe un po 'meglio di loro. Sono stato molto sorpreso da alcune delle squadre.

Spero che stanno avendo un grande fine settimana.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I wonder at that too Tom as he must have the tiniest of stomaches. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

In the insect world, a lot of the femals are there purely for reproduction Becky and so do not develop as much as the males. The males however are the ones going out to find them must be able to get around better.

Elettra said...

Ciao Joan, thanks for showing me this mantis, I had never seen this insect

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Hello Elettra. You are welcome. I am pleased to show you something new. We do have some very interesting insects here in SA. :)

Diane said...

Joan I think you may appreciate the following
http://carlibelle.canalblog.com
She writes usually in both French and English and the photos are brilliant. Diane

troutbirder said...

My boys found one of those once on our door screen and watched it for hours. Totally fascinated.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks for the link Diane. You are right, she has excellent pics.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I can imagine they were TB. It is not often one finds or sees one of these.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

The mantis along with dragonflies are my favorites. They just have a monster / dragon like something to them, just in miniature.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I cannot fault you on your choices Jonker. There is definitely something special about them.

Rambling Woods said...

I always think of a very arrogant and self-assured bug when I see a mantis.. of course that isn't scientific at all....lol... michelle

Unknown said...

They look so delicate; like they could get swept away by a delicate breeze! Great photographs Joan, I love them! I want to see one of those 'in person' one day!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Who cares what science says Michelle, it is our perception which counts and I agree with you. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Now how can you like these and not butterflies Krista? These are much more daunting. I wonder if you have any in that colder climate of yours? If you ever come here for a visit, I will find you one and a chameleon. :)They are all so amazing.

Mary said...

So like a stick! Must be hard to spot them and get such good photos.

Unknown said...

Hi Joan! I don't know why butterflies are so scary to me. Clearly I CAN get close to them, I just would usually rather not. The Stick Mantis? No problem I bet!

We don't have anything exotic like that here. We have bugs but they are all really tough because they have to survive the winters, even if they are underground! :o) I would love love love to get there and take pictures of all of this stuff. Someday I will!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary. It was another lucky find.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You did fantastic with that wonderful butterfly Krista and I know soon you will get ver your feelings for them. In most cases it just takes getting used to them.

Yes, so many of the insects we have here will never survive that cold. In some parts of the country, it is too cold here for them too so I am lucky I stay further north where it is warmer.

I do hope you manage to get here sometime my friend, it will be wonderful showing you around. :)

Craig Glenn said...

Another great photo shoot J!

Craig Glenn

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Craig. I love it when I find these unusual things. :)