Mantis Vs Bluebottle

[StuartH]

The fly lost! lol :lol:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9447.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9434.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9436.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9440.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9425.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9420.jpg

[StuartH]

For an idea of scale..
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9057.jpg

[jgs001]

What a great set of shots, almost scary till you get to the scale shot. That fly sure did come off worst.

[EdinburghGary]

Dude those are just gross.


But so bloody impressive.

[EdinburghGary]

For an idea of scale..
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff214/StuartHowephotography/STU_9057.jpg

Are those sensor spots near your knuckles :lol::cuckoo: :D

[Morph]

Great set of shots. They sure are ugly bug-gers!!
Neil

[hairy]

Stunning shots Stuart :clap::clap::clap:

[StuartH]

Are those sensor spots near your knuckles :lol::cuckoo: :D

Yes they beep before impact!!...:lol:
Cheers all..glad you liked them..this one is coming up to moult soon so hoping to get some pics of it

[StuartH]

:lol:@Neil and cheers Keith...

[Cobra]

Very nice set Stuart :thumbs:

[rockkeeper]

great set

[Wail]

Nicely caught, but I have to say that they are :gag:. I thought that mantis was a lot bigger until I got to see it on your hand ... amazing how you've managed to capture the feed :thumbs:

[StuartH]

Thanks guys..these flower mantids are very small..I have a giant asian mantis that is much bigger!!

[Ajophotog]

Great set Stuart, do you hand the fly to the mantid or does it just catch it loose in it's container? #5 is great it holding it like a cornetto :lol:

[StuartH]

This one was off tweezers but he will catch them also

[bidden]

FASCINATING!!:clap:

[Wail]

You say you have an Asian giant mantis :thinking:, what, do you breed them?

[StuartH]

Thanks Bidden...Not bred them yet but hoping to get some more and breed a few..

[zarozinia]

Gruesome but fascinating. Excellent set of photographs and what a beautiful mantid too.

[StuartH]

Thanks angi..

[jimbob]

the 'ghost fly' is gonna get ya!!

[oldgit]

Gross, but excellent

[Graelwyn]

Fantastic, albeit shudder worthy shots.
What lens did you use?
I used to keep a pair of praying mantis' until the female ate the male and died soon after herself. My father had been left with the care of them.

[StuartH]

the 'ghost fly' is gonna get ya!!

:lol:
Cheers oldgit..
Graelwyn did you keep them together all the time??..they ar highly cannabilistic and should only be put together for breeding and even then the male can get eaten if he doesn't leg it...lol:lol:

[Si240]

Extremly impressed by these shots Stuart and very happy to see how small the mantis actually is... harder to have nightmares when it's so ickle. Thank god/nature/deity of your choice insects aren't 6 feet tall. Very interesting creatures, how did you get into keeping them?

[StuartH]

Thanks Si,much appreciated..I have only recently started keeping these the last few weeks. I have always kept snakes,lizeds and spiders but not these..often thought about it but never took the plunge. Done some research on them and found out how easy they are to keep so decided to get a few..:)

[TomB]

Excellent series, the only comment I would make is that it might be worthwhile setting up a more naturalistic background, it would add to them greatly IMO.

[Oli R C]

Are these the goriest shots on TP? :lol: Certainly as far as I've seen.

Brill though :D

[Ladybird]

Incredible shots!!! :notworthy:


:gag: gross, but fabulous! :D

[Werecow]

That mantis is gorgeous :) Almost looks like it's made out of porcelain!

[Yv]

:clap: stunning shots, macro of the highest order! That mantid is tiny and beautiful :thumbs:

[StuartH]

:thumbs: Thanks everyone...they are pretty gruesome..:lol:
Tom these were just taken quickly I did post some with black background the other week..:D