Mantis Religiosa Photo

Photographer’s Note

Religious Mantis

To these insects they are also known with the name of Santateresas. They are of the order: Dictiópteros (Dyctyoptera). Suborden: Mantodea. Species: Mantis.

These insects are predators, they are mainly in the tropics. Their metamorphosis is incomplete. Their head is small and mobile, its big eyes. The insects predators have sharp and pointed jaws to cross, to retain and to crumble their preys. The jaws of the mantis can cut a fly. Their front paws are robust and they are equipped with some sharp spikes that use to catch and to hold their preys.

The religious mantis is called this way to these insects because it remains leaning on its later appendixes and they maintain the couple of previous appendixes together, this position adopts it while this wait to its prey (this posture is as that of the humans when they pray).

Here in Tabasco, they are considered animals of good luck.

Another picture of the Religious Mantis in TrekNature: Religious Mantis

In TrekLens: Portrait of a Mantis

More information here:
http://www.conevyt.org.mx/cursos/planeta/fichas/13.htm
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/1998/jun98/980601/cien-calcular.html

Rockyboy, papagolf21, RAP, tucancr, jackwp, prlcs, ma-tibou, Surfer31, rcastro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jurgen (1994) 2004-07-30 16:21

Yo le quitaría un poco de cielo a la foto, me parece mucho. La idea de ponerla sobre un dedo es muy buena para dar una idea de tamaño real. Parece como si los ojos estuviesen mirando directo a la cámara, un buen resultado.

Rockyboy (20582) 2004-07-30 16:41

Very nice picture of that Religious Mantis. I like very much her eyes and the blue background of mexico sky is very nice. Well done, Ninfa!

papagolf21 (56765) 2004-07-30 16:59

Il faudra m'expliquer comment vous faites Ninfa ! Il est déjà difficile de réaliser une photographie de près de cet insecte ; mais alors la photographier sur la main cela relève de l'exploit !
Vous avez sûrement un don du Ciel.
Félicitations Ninfa.
It will be necessary to explain to me how you make Ninfa! It is already difficult to realize a photography of about this insect; but then to photograph it on the hand it recovers from the exploit!
You have certainly a godsend.
Congratulations Ninfa.

RAP (1053) 2004-07-30 17:55

Que bella captura Ninfa!
Hermosos colores, y excelente idea de mostrarla sobre el dedo con tanto detalle.
Coincido con Jurgen que podrias recortar algo del cielo cambiando el encuadre y resaltando mas aun el Mantis.
Felicitaciones por otra imagen la calidad de siempre.

jackwp (519) 2004-07-31 17:20

This is an excellent close up. I picked up a praying mantis once and he bit me, and made me bleed. It really hurt. So, be careful. Nice clarity and colors. Good capture.

jrzufferey (7249) 2004-08-01 13:17

Ninfa, tu as une façon bien originale de nous montrer une mante religieuse, ton image est bonne, amicalement/jr

waskahegan (0) 2004-08-01 13:26

Santateresa me parece guapa, Que bella captura Ninfa!
La idea de ponerla sobre tu dedo esta muy buena para dar una idea del tamaño real. un buen resultado.

prlcs (63) 2004-08-07 8:57

Superbe Ninfa,
Le contraste des couleurs entre le bleu et le vert est très joli. Une excellente macro. La présence de cet insecte sur le doigt donne une bonne idée du rapport de taille.

ma-tibou (4566) 2004-08-09 6:10

Très belle macro Ninfa, un ciel magnifique comme fond d'écran(on dira), La belle demoiselle verte ressort à merveille . Bravo.

Surfer31 (3587) 2004-08-18 14:39

Hi... wonderful picture of this lovelly Mantis. I love your aproach to this nature portrait, the composition is very nice and the details in the Mantis are excelent. Very well done.

kaud (1838) 2004-11-21 23:31

(+)
Beautifully snapped.
Good DOF.
Color and Composition OK

(-)
IMO top blue may be reduced by cropping.

adind (738) 2004-12-27 9:10

Hello..
First time i'm looking at your iamges ..
you have a wonderful collection of pictures..it seems that you are pssionate
about insect images..in particular i like
this very much..it is amazingly sharp...and
the bckground blue is really nice..

best,
atis

rcastro (164) 2005-04-23 21:01