Brown praying mantis

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Brown praying mantis

September 10, 2013 by Mike Powell

I feel lucky whenever I spot a praying mantis, because they are usually so well camouflaged that they are virtually invisible when motionless.

I was a little surprised to see a brown one recently (all the other ones that I have seen have been green), but I can’t help but note that the brown head makes those green compound eye really stand out. I really felt like the praying mantis was looking right at me as I tried to photograph it.

Posted in Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Huntley Meadows Park, praying mantis, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on September 10, 2013 at 4:02 am | Reply Ed

WOW! Great shot!!
on September 10, 2013 at 6:31 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

I agree with Ed-great shot. I haven’t seen one of these since I was a boy.
- on September 10, 2013 at 11:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I have only seen two this season and consider myself pretty fortunate.
on September 10, 2013 at 7:21 am | Reply Mjollnir

Just waiting to pounce and looking straight at you! 😀
on September 10, 2013 at 9:03 am | Reply noir33

I’ve read that they turn brown as the climate become less humid and warm. Is it dry and hot up that way?
- on September 10, 2013 at 11:12 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It has been pretty warm and we haven’t had too much rain, although it has been humid a lot. That’s a pretty plausible explanation of the color. Thanks.
on September 10, 2013 at 5:07 pm | Reply krikitarts

They really have the most amazing eyes. I haven’t seen one this year, either here in Omaha or up at the lake. I too feel lucky when I cross paths with one. Once, several years ago, an egg sac in one of our globe cedars had just produced dozens of hatchlings that were about 3/4 of an inch in length. What a delight to watch them! Have you ever seen them that small!
- on September 10, 2013 at 11:06 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I have only seen them as adults. It would definitely be cool to see the hatchlings. I also hope someday to see newly hatched spiders.
on September 11, 2013 at 12:14 pm | Reply caleephotography

These animals are so cool! I’ve never seen one in real life, and only green ones in pictures. This is a really nice capture, he’s looking right at you with his big green eyes! Nice little alien. 🙂
- on September 11, 2013 at 1:51 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Definitely alien-looking, Perhaps they are the inspiration for some of the creatures in science fiction movies.