Because it was black and, at 5mm (0.2in) was the size of an ant, I thought it was an ant! I started shooting it, then realized it looked different. Not quite an ant. After staring at it for a while, I saw the forelegs and thought, "WHAT! A mantis? That tiny!?"
According to Google, it's a mantis nymph. In this stage of its life, it mimics the ant, possibly as a form of defensive mimicry because dark ants are repulsive to birds that habitually regard the mantis as prey. This nymph will grow up to be a grassy green adult mantis.
very cool. Love your macro pictures and amazed at how you are capturing them after reading your bio. following you after reading "what others say of my photos", you are funny!
Wow, I am so amazed at your insight to the bug world.
This is an incredible. I knew it wasn't an ant right away because I viewed someone's post just yesterday (can't remember who) that ants antenna's are jointed and have several joints too. I feel I should be able to earn college credits from viewing & reading your posts.
Wow, Livia, such an amazing capture. Fabulous shot. Thanks so much for all the information, and see just like you said in your picture of the ant yesterday--it can't be an ant because of the antennae of an ant bending ; ) A fav for me.
One of the classes I subbed in had a sac of praying mantis eggs in a tank. I never made it back after they hatched and was really curious. I know gardeners order them too
Wonderful photo great explanation,at first I thought it was a ant until you mentioned the forelegs legs and then I saw them folded like a Mantis ,but still I would not of know that.
Aha...photography teaches us so much.....look at you googling about this creature. I too thought it was an ant when I first lay eyes on your photo....great capture.
Super cool... never knew that about them! Nature is pretty clever. This is a great capture! Today, we found a bug we've never seen before... It was only a few mm long maximum. I'll see if any of my shots turned out well enough and see if one of our "bug experts" on 365 can help identify! It's fun seeing these things via macro, isn't it! I know you're addicted :P
A great, big, secretive, well disguised and camouflaged, quietly effective "THANK YOU!" to all for taking the time to stop by! I'm learning all sorts of things every time I go out with my camera for macro shots. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Your comments are a great source of motivation for me. I must finish this project! XD
What a fantastic macro, Livia. I do not know how you find all these bugs but you are good at it and your macros are so awesome. This is one of my favorite insects. FAV
This is an incredible. I knew it wasn't an ant right away because I viewed someone's post just yesterday (can't remember who) that ants antenna's are jointed and have several joints too. I feel I should be able to earn college credits from viewing & reading your posts.
Awesome shot btw
Again, thank you!