Mantodea
Uploaded: January 16, 2008
Florida 2007 Christmas Vacation Series.
The condo I staying at had dense growth in the Vero area.
The community was teaming with critters.
An Entomologist identified this as belonging to the Mantodea (Mantises).
Personally, I have never seen anything like this insect.
Canon 100mm Macro lens. Entered "D&M" moved to "Animals" 1/20.
Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 54.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Dominick M. Dimacale January 16, 2008
Great find here, Steven.
Dominick #832026
Dr. Harmeet Singh January 16, 2008
This is wonderful.it looked like a part of the wood.Great find and capture.The green BG is making it beautiful. #5351463Evy Johansen January 17, 2008
Awesome capture, Steven!! #5351484Teresa Burnett January 17, 2008
Great eye to spot this guy Steven!! This is a wonderful image! Great clarity and comp, and the green bg really sets off your subject!! #5351487Jennifer L. Alder January 17, 2008
LOL-- Christmas vacation series?!?!?!?!Nancy (Peaches) Harker January 17, 2008
I almost thought it looked like a praying Mantis, AWSOME find and capture Steven!!! #5351757Steven E. Ray January 17, 2008
Thanks everyone! I added more description to the title. It did seem odd to associate an insect with Christmas vacation :) The condo I stayed at was in the older Vero Beach area. It is the earlier developed part of Florida, very dense with foilage and every type of plant and insect. I went into the back lot of the condo and the whole deck and chairs moved from the motion of creatures. I have several other photos of insect and creature study which I spent half a day shooting. Yes Peaches, Mantodea (Mantises) is the praying Mantis insect classification. #5351826Michelle Alton January 17, 2008
WOW-EEH! This is one of the most incredible insect captures, because he looks totally made up (though I know he is not). He also looks like a fossil!Donald K. Cherry January 17, 2008
Awesome macro work, Steven! Good detail, light and color! #5352095Colette M. Metcalf January 17, 2008
GREAT capture!!! #5352460Kirsten Kiki Kjaer January 17, 2008
WOW! I've never seen one of these either. Fantastic details and capture, Steven. You have the most AMAZING pictures in you gallery. I've really enjoyed looking at them. #5352615Bernice Wood January 17, 2008
I believe everyone has already said it all, so WHOA~! #5352821Angie Sidles January 17, 2008
WOW Steven! What an absolutely fantastic find!! Beautiful image. The clarity is amazing. I don't think I could have gotten that close to it. I am a bit skiddish around big bugs so I admire your bravery! LOL! #5352928Kay Beausoleil January 17, 2008
Like everyone, my first reaction was WOW, what a find, what a great background and what wonderful detail, Steven! #5353405Melissa Olsen January 17, 2008
WOW, cool bug!! Great clarity and color! #5353472Terry L. Ellis January 17, 2008
A fantastic capture, Steven! Such detail! I enjoyed viewing your lovely gallery, too! #5354092Michael Umbreit January 17, 2008
Steven - Wow!! Excellent find and capture! I have never seen anything like that before! - Mike #5355520Melissa McCabe January 17, 2008
Cool capture, and great macro - love the all-green background, makes this crazy creature stand out!! -mm #5355779Stefania Barbier January 17, 2008
OMG look at the details!!! amazing macro! #5356215Kathy L. Clark January 18, 2008
This is so fabulous Steven. Perfect detail, comp and light and even better I think you have found the next frightful creature for a world devouring movie. #5358182Heather L. Haderly January 18, 2008
FANTASTIC capture Steven!!!!! Mantises Rock! Bought an egg case one year for the garden, my daughter and I loved playing with them. Ours weren't as exotic looking as this little marvel! #5360632Christina C. Moore January 19, 2008
I love this mantis! Nicely done. Good DOF. #5361867Betsy Labuschagne January 20, 2008
Fantastic capture Steven!! #5367180Sue Marshall January 20, 2008
Excellent clarity on this little critter Steven very well done!Teresa Norris January 20, 2008
This is just super! Beautiful details on this amazing little fellow...love him against the vibrant green. Gorgeous capture! #5367945Sandra R. Alvey January 20, 2008
Wowie gorgeous detail and the lighting is AMAZING! Wonderful capture Steven! #5369640Jennifer A. Lambert January 21, 2008
FANTASTIC Macro Steven !!! Sorry I haven't been around for a while...but My husband works in Brazil and he was home for a few weeks...plus I got him a new Puppy for XMas and that has taken alot of my time...LOL He is the CUTEST little WHITE BOXER in the world....just precious. He named him Jack Frost and we call him JACK...he such a love muffin !James Quantz Jr. January 22, 2008
Something from another time...mighty brave with that macro lens! #5377830Barbara Waldoch January 23, 2008
This is great, Steve! #5380276Fanie Heymans January 23, 2008
Amazing clarity and detail, Outstanding color, lighting and contrast... Beautiful Macro #5382081Reynaldo D. Reyes January 23, 2008
Wonderful macro shot Steven. I love the lighting on this one, shows off the 3 dimensionality of this praying mantis and the composition is topnotch. The blurred background is very clean and compliments the subject very well. Great work! #5384323Kristi A. Howson January 23, 2008
An amazing insect and you sure did a perfect job in capturing the impact of it too. Nice work Steve! #5384342Shelly A. Van Camp January 24, 2008
Super capture, macro, details and colors!! #5388138Gail Vitikacs January 24, 2008
This is such a wonderful image Steve! Love the details and clarity! #5388165Carol Teal January 24, 2008
Me neither Steve, but you sure gave us an excellent view of this creature! Great detail and clarity! #5389841Ermanno Radice January 24, 2008
Superb capture, excellent image, great DOF, many congratulations on your wonderful gallery, Steven!!! #5389950Alex T. Mizuno January 25, 2008
A fascinating creature! Excellent macro, Steven!! #5390121Danielle Fuller January 25, 2008
Very cool. Love the details and tones! #5391319Sarah G January 25, 2008
A Wondering Violin Mantis in FL? Pretty cool! These guys are from India and Sri Lanka....and no I didn't know that until just a few minutes ago. Your photo inspired me and with a little hunting and pecking I found him.
This is such a neat photo and mantis. You really found a great one.
EXCELLENT photography! #5392074
Steven E. Ray January 25, 2008
Wow... thanks very much everyone! Macro photos of insects is my favorite subject I think.Thanks Sarah for your research. This critter is totally in the wrong place then. There are several Indian families in the Vero area, maybe they brought eggs over? Insects get relocated constantly, some of the native Western species are thanks to the Spanish ships and the new world settlers. Example: Earth worms were introduced to the Americas by the English. #5393365
Sarah G January 25, 2008
Well, it wasn't the first place that I found a photo of this type of mantis, but when "googled," places where you could buy praying mantis as pets were on the list. I remember this one being on at least one of those sites. It could have been a "used to be" pet or descendent of one. Who knows, but it was an interesting and fun fact finding adventure. #5393739Teresa Norris January 25, 2008
Steven, congratulations on this wonderful finalist!!! #5394210Jean-Pierre Ducondi January 31, 2008
This is an amazing capture Steven. Excellent macro. Fascinating work. Thank you for the details on this creature.Lisa J. Boulden February 04, 2008
Holy Macro!Erika Haight February 05, 2008
Great lines in this one Steven! WTG! erika haight #5449854Christopher Jamison February 20, 2008
excellent macro shot. fantastic detail! #5520684Joseph M. Muench March 22, 2008
This is just so cool! Nice macro.Amy JACKSON April 24, 2008
What a cool find and of course and an excellent macro, Steven!! #5838044ALLEN O. HOWARD March 25, 2009
WOW! This is a STUNNING macro! Holy Macro is right! #7331705Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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