Mantispid 20060619 by Gordon W

Gordon W | all galleries >> Photos by Subject >> Bugs Gallery > Mantispid 20060619


19-JUN-2006

Looked like a cross between a wasp and a miniature praying mantis.
Photographed in Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

And another view of it...

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
with Canon 500D Closeup Lens

1/100s f/9.0 at 300.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

Guest		21-Apr-2008 12:44
Great capture of a very interesting fly!

Mark Niessner		08-Nov-2006 02:31
Great shot of a strange bug.

Gayle P. Clement		17-Sep-2006 14:02
Wow!

Guest		13-Sep-2006 13:30
That is one ugly insect but one wonderful capture. well done... ian

cat bounds		13-Sep-2006 01:45
If this thing is for real, it's the scariest insect I've ever seen in my life.

akleja		20-Jun-2006 07:14
Amazing! Great shot!

Gordon W		20-Jun-2006 06:29
Thanks much for the identification and info, Bob B. Very interesting.

Arno Meintjes Wildlife		20-Jun-2006 06:04
GMV.

Yi Feng		20-Jun-2006 01:55
Beautiful macro shot. Very funny looking.

Bob B.		20-Jun-2006 01:39
This is a mantispid (Family Mantispidae. You don't see these often, let alone get a picture! They are predaceous. This one is, as you can see, a wasp mimic. This is likely the Wasp Mantidfly, Climaciella brunnea. It occurs in eastern N.A in about June - July. This family is in the larger group (Order) of insects called the Neuroptera. In this group are green lacewings, ant lions, dobson flies, and others. Again, nice shot!

Guest		20-Jun-2006 01:32
very cool. If you find out what it is, please let me know.

Blair Howell		20-Jun-2006 00:54
WOW.....The stuff of nightmares.....Nice shot though!