I met a Mantid forum member at the half price bookshop today and got some of my most desired mantids, Phyllocrania paradoxa or Ghost Mantis. I think they look more like HR Gigers aliens with their weird head decorations so they ought to be called Xenos Mantids! The seller said they were L5/L6 but are still only 1" to 1 1/2" in size. Despite this they are not afraid to climb on you and explore the world. I played with the black one for some time he didn't want to go in his forest the other two chose their own enclosures but black wanted to break for it and wander all over my arms, I didn't have the camera out at the time.
Now that they've settled into their usual inverted perch positions, here's shots of them each in their own 2 gallon candy jar vivarium habitats with live plants and mosses. I hate seeing these guys in a bare deli cup and a single twig.
Black
Green (female? this one is the biggest)
Brown
I'm working on getting some closeups, my camera can't seem to do good macro even though it has a macro setting. Are there any good point and shoots like a Fuji J20 credit card size model that also have good macro or is that mutually exclusive? I hate those big chunky cameras like my old Coolpix5700.
Now that they've settled into their usual inverted perch positions, here's shots of them each in their own 2 gallon candy jar vivarium habitats with live plants and mosses. I hate seeing these guys in a bare deli cup and a single twig.
Black
Green (female? this one is the biggest)
Brown
I'm working on getting some closeups, my camera can't seem to do good macro even though it has a macro setting. Are there any good point and shoots like a Fuji J20 credit card size model that also have good macro or is that mutually exclusive? I hate those big chunky cameras like my old Coolpix5700.