Macro Monday.
Feb 2nd, 2009 by Duncan
Saturday night was cooler after the heat, 25 degrees, and mothing was a lot easier to cope with because there were nowhere near as many nuisance insects attracted to the light. What did come in though were four or five of a type that was new to me, mantis-flies, very small, only 12-14 mm long, they prowled around the table grabbing tiny insects with their formidable front legs. These intriguing insects are actually lacewings, order Neuroptera, family Mantispidae, and it’s easy to see how the raptorial front legs give them their their common name. The larvae are parasitic, some on spider eggs. Thanks to IE and DH for information, the species could be Campion callosus. Click to enlarge.
Hi Duncan
A very nice find, Duncan.
Once again, evolution has thrown up an odd example of “convergent evolution” – where they are seemingly not related to the Mantids, but have similar structures for grabbing prey.
Very interesting.
Chew Family has a page on what they call Mantid Lacewings.
I am dead impressed with your insect “find”.
Denis
Small is beautiful. Unless those legs are grasping you!
I’ve ordered more water for the south. We’re stockpiling it now
Glad to see it is a bit cooler hope there is no fires near you, great photos.
Thanks Denis, must admit I was fascinated by the little things, and little they were.
Had to have my glasses on to see them!
Good on yer Tony, have put a new handle in my shovel ready to start digging that ditch.
Thanks Neil, the cooler weather and 4mm of rain is very welcome.
What fantastic little animals. The whole of the Neuroptera seems to be packed with delicate, lacy little killers.
Aren’t they Snail, that pattern on the eye reminds me of the vicious wood removal discs that you can buy to fit on an angle grinder!
Excellent photos. What’s the camera set-up you’re using for the insect??
Hi John, Nikon D90, Sigma 105 macro, pop up flash on camera, hand held, steadied on table. I’ve had very good results just using the on camera flash, even at minimum focus distance, approximately 10 inches.
Great shots, Duncan. Your mantid flies are quite different than the ones I find at our farm — our are yellow and brown and look rather like wasps. I’ve just been reading about the firest in Australia. Hope you’re staying out of harm’s way.
Fires are not up our way yet Bev, touch wood.