May 12, 2009

Mantids Galore

It's been far too long since my last mass mantis post, so I decided that we all could use another dose of Igor Siwanowicz's magical photography. Enjoy.

The first three photos are of Schizocephala bicornis, the next one is of a boxer mantis, then Deiphobe brunneri, then Rhombodera basalis. As for the others, I cannot vouch for their identification. I only know that I'm glad they aren't man-sized.

Thanks, Igor.










19 comments:

Sabina E. said...

they're all very pretty.

W. A. Whipple said...

beautiful - love the mantids!

And you're so right, Igor's photos are magical - marvelous!

Anonymous said...

The last picture looks like they're gossiping!

niner said...

I love Igor's photos. More, please and thank you!

Unknown said...

As soon as I saw the word "Mantids", I got really excited. What have you done to me?

Anonymous said...

I think from now on whenever I'm reading any H. P. Lovecraft, and he's describing some sort of horrible, alien, other-dimensional being, some part of my imagination will always picture some form of mantid.

Jenny Reiswig said...

I love #6 - insect version of jazz hands.

Anonymous said...

I want to be his fan on facebook... but there is no fan page for him. :(

Raging Wombat said...

That's the power of the mantis, James.

Veemarge said...

WOW. Thanks for this great website. I check in daily and am never disappointed.

Raging Wombat said...

Why thankee, Veemarge.

dourocouli said...

Number 3 is quite obviously playing Hamlet.

Anonymous said...

So beautifully alien...

Thank you for your wonderful site. As a biology and creative writing double major with a Geography/Archaeology Masters on the way, I love it. Your appreciation of ugly makes my day every day.

booge said...

Igor Siwanowicz always manages to make any animals look like nobility. (Bet he could make me respect pigeon babies or even the hated frogfishes. Damn, those things are a whole lot of ugly.)

But mantids always look like the royals of the insect world to me. Like they'd be the popes and kings, viceroys, etc. of the smaller invertebrates. Something elusively haughty, bloodthirsty, seemingly scheming, intelligent, and elegant about them, but I'm sure they're ugly to someone.

Anonymous said...

WOW! The first one is so cool, almost alien-like! I love how he rips the head off that fly! Too bad we don't have those around here on the west coast!

Amanda said...

I agree w/ earlier comment - that last picture is totally like:
"She didn't."
"No, she did!"
Amanda

Unknown said...

It amazes me how Siwanowicz can always take the ugliest of species and make them beautiful. The photography is amazing and the colors are brilliant.

Vanessa said...

They are stunning, and Igor brings out the best in them.
Gorgeous!

Unknown said...

The 8th one is a Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid Mantis) and MY GOD I love Igor's work. Ever since I discovered him, Mantids are hand's down my favorite insect <3