Showing posts with label Gargoyle Mantis (Empusa guttula) Family Empusidae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gargoyle Mantis (Empusa guttula) Family Empusidae. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Vacation Time - Day 5 Part 1

Update: This is a Gargoyle Mantis (Empusa guttula) Family Empusidae 
I am only guessing when I say I think this must be some kind of bark mantis as I have never seen one like this before and it does not appear in my book.

It had the most astonishing antennae/crown on top of its head and I wonder if it part of its disguise or there for a purpose? It had the most astonishing antennae/crown on top of its head and I wonder if it part of its disguise or there for a purpose?

This was still a baby one measuring from head to tail about 1 1/2 inches.

At one time I brought the camera lens to close to it and it dashed like crazy to hang under my finger in order to get away from it and I had to smile. :)
With its coloration and the leaf-like part on its back, I would definitely say it falls into the leaf mantis category don’t you?

These claws are amazing and I would think it capable of gripping something even bigger than itself in them.

These eyes fascinated me with their stripes….. A front foot which it was using to hold onto my finger.
Its body…….

And the curled up abdomen indicating its youth. These nymphs are wingless. I have come across many different and interesting mantis but I think this has to be the most unusual one yet.
A closer look at the antennae/crown. And ideas about it? Is it just there for disguise?