@dj.tigersprout: getting her inside was easy; among my five kids, i have an eleven and a thirteen year old boy. they're always bringing home bugs, crawfish, toads...

thanks for the comment!

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Nasty little fella there, well captured.

9 Sep 2008 5:33am

Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand

Great capture and pose, he or she resembles an alien! I like the way they follow you with there big eyes when you try to make a picture of them! Haven't seen an adult one for a while, but yesterday I was very happy taking some pictures of the nymph of the mantis.

9 Sep 2008 6:27am

@Monique: thanks, monique. i managed to capture some nymphs (didn't realize that was the term...) earlier this year: baby mantis i and baby mantis ii. they're fascinating creatures; very bold and aggressive.

thanks for the comment!

Morgane from Laroque Timbaut, 47, France

great macro !

9 Sep 2008 7:27am

LAE from Chesterton, United States

Wow ! Awesome Macro !

9 Sep 2008 7:52am

sandrine from cincinnati, United States

Great macro!

9 Sep 2008 9:45am

Laurent from Lyon, France

great focus and I like the black background

9 Sep 2008 11:07am

@Laurent: thanks; she was hopping around on the island in my kitchen, and stood up in front of my black refrigerator which, as it turns out, served as an excellent background...

as always, i appreciate the comment!

r00t from Csorna, Hungary

fantastic macro. congrats.

9 Sep 2008 11:47am

Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

The lighting and detail is amazing! She's a beauty!

9 Sep 2008 12:18pm

MJ from Delaware, United States

great macro... yours has much more color than mine did.... great shot....

9 Sep 2008 12:30pm

@MJ: thanks, mj. i had the advantage of indoor, and flash, to control the lighting. i'll be posting some outdoor shots of her soon, as well...

Betty from New Jersey, United States

One of the best macros of a praying mantis I've seen... very well done!

9 Sep 2008 3:45pm

Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada

That is a terrific composition. AN excellent model.

9 Sep 2008 4:06pm

willow from Chelsea, United States

very, very cool photo! I love these guys!

9 Sep 2008 5:37pm

Zygene from morlaix, France

Une impressionnante photo, vraiment de toute beauté.

9 Sep 2008 6:02pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Excellent macro, like the black background. I agree with Monique, he looks like an alien with his 2 big eyes.... :-)

9 Sep 2008 6:23pm

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

This is such an amazing macro shot of a beautiful creature. He/she looks positively alien!

9 Sep 2008 7:10pm

Veronelle from Lens, France

very super macro beautifull

9 Sep 2008 7:41pm

Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands

Impressive macro, good pose!

9 Sep 2008 10:28pm

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

incredible detail! what an amazing macro shot! bravo

10 Sep 2008 12:15am

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

It has a sort of intelligent stare, watching your next move. Incredible macro.

10 Sep 2008 12:17am

Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand

@Thanks for the link to your pictures ... they are really beautiful creatures and very willing to pose! ;)
When you follow this link http://mitmig.web-log.nl/fotografie/macros/index.html you'll find some mantids I managed to photograph. The one I've captured a few days ago, will follow in a couple of days ;)

10 Sep 2008 9:11am