An amazing finding during a mantis's dinner-table drama (as observed by a non-expert in forest-edge uplands in the Canary Islands, Aug 2020).
1/6
A praying mantis -- a predator of insects that is as grimly formidable as it looks -- flies in noisily for a late-evening dinner...
1/6
A praying mantis -- a predator of insects that is as grimly formidable as it looks -- flies in noisily for a late-evening dinner...
2/6
He disappears briefly...
soon emerging from the moonless gloom to the edge of a side-lit terrace..
keeping an eye on the moths and other insects that gather around its grand, luminous stage...
He disappears briefly...
soon emerging from the moonless gloom to the edge of a side-lit terrace..
keeping an eye on the moths and other insects that gather around its grand, luminous stage...
3/6
Or is the stage already this gecko's?...
And whether or not it was actually aiming for the mantis, the latter takes evasive action and moves rapidly away...
Or is the stage already this gecko's?...
And whether or not it was actually aiming for the mantis, the latter takes evasive action and moves rapidly away...
4/6
This species of mantis has very prominent eye-like markings, one on each of its forearms.
You can just about see them, even in this sideways pose...
This species of mantis has very prominent eye-like markings, one on each of its forearms.
You can just about see them, even in this sideways pose...
5/6
... which it deploys to great effect, forming a large face... in the direction of the gecko...
It also spreads its wings. This isn't to look larger from the front, ie behind the 'face'...
Instead... Wait for it...
... which it deploys to great effect, forming a large face... in the direction of the gecko...
It also spreads its wings. This isn't to look larger from the front, ie behind the 'face'...
Instead... Wait for it...
6/6
I wasn't able to capture the sound the #mantis made at this point, but it actually hissed repeatedly and incredibly loudly -- like a snake, so to speak -- by scratching its wings with regular upward movements of its abdomen...
Amazing #behaviour!
PS, the #gecko stayed away
I wasn't able to capture the sound the #mantis made at this point, but it actually hissed repeatedly and incredibly loudly -- like a snake, so to speak -- by scratching its wings with regular upward movements of its abdomen...
Amazing #behaviour!
PS, the #gecko stayed away
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