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ALMOST A MANTIS


ALMOST A MANTIS
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 3103] (9226)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Insects around the world, Insects' World, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 1, Nature's cutest, Insects (Insecta) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-09 20:05
Viewed: 10721
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another picture with special dedication to TN member who decided to render his excellent insect pictures on the PES web site :>

This time a Neuroptera species for a great lover of this group - Inanc (litoriachloris).


This is Mantispa aphavexelte U. Aspöck et H. Aspöck, 1994 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) - one of the only five members of this family known from Europe.

In Europe only two genera belonging to Mantispidae are known: Mantispa with 4 species and Nampista with 1 species only.

This specimen comes from Butrinti (S Albania, a few km from the border with Greece) where it was collected to the light. Interesting is this species was not known from the area of Albania before. Moreover, thanks to this specimen also the first records of this genus and the whole family Mantispidae from this country were possible :)

What we can say about Mantispidae?

This is rather strange group of Neuroptera. For the first view these species looks like normal and well known green lacewings (Chrysopidae) but except the first pair of legs. And this is the most characteristic morphological feature for this family of Neuroptera.
The first pair of legs are very similar to legs of mantids and as in case of mantids they are used by these small predatory insects for hunting.

As we can easy guess the Latin name Mantispidae was given to this insect group after similarity to Mantis = mantid species.

These insects are rather termophilous and in Europe can be found mainly in S part of continent. As adults they are hunting for different small insects like aphids and flies.

I also would like pay your attention for one more detail - this species was described only 13 years ago - in 1994 :>
JoseMiguel, uleko, fiyo, dew77, anel, ramthakur, delic, horia, smirnese, RAP, cataclysta, cedryk, Nephrotome2, undoredo, aisvash, sily, peter_stoeckl, haraprasan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cedryk: Mantispacicindela 1 02-13 16:31
To horia: Mantispacicindela 1 02-11 15:08
To delic: Mantispacicindela 1 02-11 14:54
To ramthakur: Mantiscicindela 1 02-11 14:44
To Argus: Mantispacicindela 1 02-11 14:36
To saguzar: Neuropteracicindela 1 02-10 09:56
To uleko: Mantispa from Albania :)cicindela 1 02-10 08:49
To litoriachloris: Mantispacicindela 1 02-10 08:37
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Radomir,
Magnificent macro!
I like so much all the details got, the transparency of the wings, and the excellent pose of the upper legs.
DOF creates an excellent effect with the short focus in range on the wood.
A very good picture of this particular insect.
Congratulations, thanks for share and happy week end,
JM

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-02-10 1:17]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
What a peculiar insect, you must have been thrilled to find it! There must be more exciting insects still to be discovered in that part of Europe. Excellent close-up illustration showing fine sharp details. Nicely framed too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2007-02-10 3:44]

Hello Radomir,
Great shot, very good POV and pose. Sharpness,details and colors are very nice.
Very well done .TFS..

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2007-02-10 4:34]

Hello Radomir,
Wonderful close up.POV,details,sharpness,lighting,framing and composition are excellent.Have a great weekend!
TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2007-02-10 4:35]

bonjour Radomir,
superbe image macro, vraiment très très réussi. Bon pov qui donne beaucoup de détails, belle gestion de la lumière et du contraste, pas facile sur ce sujet clair.


tfs

Hi Radomir ;)

Excellent photo of this species. This spring I will spend a lot of time in meadows to see this beauty.

Many thanks for this beatiful present...

hi Radomir,
Last times I´m interesting more and more in insect´s world and always surprise me the incredible shapes and life style of them, but this is truly amazing and unthinkble to me. A neuropter that seems a mantid!!!!
Very good macro, note, and photographic document.
Thank you!!
Hernán

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-02-10 9:29]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
Fine capture of a Mantispa, an unusual and impressive insect on TN. The sharpness gives it a prominence against the BG and you have captured an excellent pose.
Well done and TFS,
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2007-02-10 11:30]

Hi Radomir,
Wonderful picture of this Mantispida. Excellent shot, taken from an unusual point of view, with lots of interesting details like eyes or wings. I think that Neuropteras are of the most beautiful insects we have in Europe.
best regards
Anne

This is truly an exotic creature, Radomir.
It looks like a cross between a lacewing and a mantis.
The image is quite sharp and clear.
Ram

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 440 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-02-10 12:26]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
You have captured a remarkable close-up image with incredible detail. Im'm particularly impressed by the wings and the color.
Best wishes,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2007-02-10 13:04]
  • [+]

Hello my friend

Ahhh...the one that got away...:))
Well not really, but i always wanted to learn more and photograph something like this.
Splendid work!
I know i only captured Mantis religiosa, but in plan are definately the other mantids from Romania, and beside them all the Mantispas that live here...but first i must learn more about them (how many they are and where to look for them :) )
This is another splendid picture from you!
The details across the entire body of this neoptera are razor-sharp and the colors are lovely.
The contrast between the Mantispa and the BG behing it is great and the composition is very nice.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

PS: congratulation for the premiere!!!

hey,
a good capture with nice colours and fine sharpness.
t.f.s.
serhan

Esse louva-a-deus é muito diferente do que o encontrado aqui na minha região. A nitidez está ótima. Obrigado por compartilhar essa bela imagem.

Marlon

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-12 15:51]

Great macro Radomir of this tiny specimen... here in Argentina I captured a picture of very similar species.

I like it a lot: composition, POV, DOF, focus, sharpness, colors, lighting, background, framing and notes.

I don't like it: nothing.

Very good presentation of this recent species with great complement of your note.
Bravo!
Ricardo

Czesc Radziu
Owad jest swietny. Fotka tez bardzo mi sie podoba ale moze ja troszeczke podostrzyc albo moze ja troche zbyt mocno skadrowales? I moze (ale to juz gdybane bo nie sprawdzile dodac troche kontrastu) To dziwne bo porownalem zdjecie z tym ze strony PTE i wyglada na bardziej ostre i wyrazne i nie mam do niego uwag

Moze ja mam cos z oczami

Pozdrawiam
Krzys

Czesc,
Nadrabiam zaleglosci :-) Fotka ma bardzo ladne kolory i swiatlo choc mam wrazenie ze cos jest nie do konca tak z ostroscia. Moze to efekt kompresji w jpg!?
Tak czy inaczej ciekawy obiekt i fajna notka :-)
Serdecznosci,
Michal

  • Great 
  • apj (75)
  • [2007-02-14 1:58]

hammm, a ja myslalem, ze pterodaktyle wymarly:)
Bardzo podoba mi sie to ujecie i technicznie- jest nieprzeostrzone i widac szczegoly, i artystycznie- zlapales u modelki piekny usmiech.
Pozdrawiam
Piotrek

Hello Radomir,
Wow, what an amazing creature!!
You show us one of wonderful insects in micro-world.
Nice captured with excellent details and POV, DOF are also great!
Regards and TFS,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 2 N: 351] (1355)
  • [2007-02-21 5:14]

Hi Radomir,

Great picture of this lacewings.
Great sharpness, position, color and background.
Great closeup !!!

Oz

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-02-21 9:45]

A great shot - and another example of - 'I wish I had taken that shot'. Good colour and sharpness. James

Nice mantispid! Thanks!

Hello Radomir,

I've almost missed this picture somehow. Just stunning, that's what I'd like to say!

Best regards,
Dmitry

  • Great 
  • sily Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 6 N: 395] (1934)
  • [2007-05-12 20:17]

Hi Radomir!
Excellent photo of this fairy like mantis, this is truly flawless photo, and a very beautiful one, thanks for the note!

Hi Radomir,
beleave it or not - I never saw a mantis in nature, I'm searching to find one, but I had no luck! This one is so lovely, I like the shot very much, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Radomir,
excellent presentation of a unique creature. A perfectly well chosen point of view to show its strange shapes in fine details within maximum available depth of field from a very close distance.
At least one member of that strange genus may be met near Vienna. I remember how surprised I was when such a Mantispa fly landed somewhere near me, noticing the striking similarity to a mantis while much smaller in size. Now, looking at your excellent close-up I witness the same kind of surprise when seeing the amount of similarities between those two members of totally different orders. Not only the front legs look exactly the same, but also the shape of the head.
Thanks for sharing this document coming with excellent explaining notes. Due to a heavily increased workload at my job I have not been in at TN very often during the last months. So I enjoy it twice to discover that presentation.
With best regards,
Peter

Hi Radomir,
A strange looking insect. Very well captured with excellent details and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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