Mantis appreciation post

[steamjunk]

must be hereditary…

[martyndrabik]

I thought the small 5 were all species that related to the Big Five…?

Leopard Tortoise
Elephant Shrew
Buffalo Weaver
Rhinoceros Beetle
Ant Lion

[broacher]

Yes. Apparently, only homo sapiens are allowed membership on iNat, so she asked me to post the selfie. (Second shot)

https://inaturalist.ca/observations/187429288

[bartwursten]

That’s why I call them my personal small five

[azgulo]

Two of my favorites from over the years include:

This moss mantid from central Panama, currently in iNaturalist purgatory, either Pogonogaster or Thesprotiella.

And:

This termite hunter, Phthersigena conspersa, that blended into the substrate south of Alice Springs, Australia.

[aditya_puthenpura]

Woaahhhhh I didnt know abt these at all! so cool!!

[LostInCR]

Do you think he knows?

Polyspilota aeruginosa

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197409721

[aditya_puthenpura]

I think they both know now