Mantis and caterpillar

The Flower Mantis is doing well in my tank and sure is a feisty fellow. As soon as I put my finger near him, he wants to bite it off. LOL!!
One day I noticed three strange caterpillars in the tank too and I do not know where they came from.

The only thing I can think of is that the Emperor Moth I had in there some time ago laid eggs and these have hatched out.

They remind me of the old time robbers who wore a mask over their eyes. I think the fruit fly was hitching a ride.

I am keeping them and recording their progress to see what happens.

There is just one slight problem!! The mantis, although a quarter of its size, keeps on trying to eat it!!

The caterpillar is much too clever and keeps on swaying his body away from the mantis.

I am sorry but some of these pictures are not very good but it will give you a good idea of what is happening.

The mantis is very persistent and keeps on trying to get him without much luck.

Eventually the caterpillar had had enough and went into one of the corners to spin a cocoon around himself to guard against that pesky mantis.