For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Feeding mantis Sybyllid sp

I kept this unusual mantis in order to take photographs of it at my leisure and found it some moths to feed on. What was interesting to me was that it stayed still for ages until the moth flew within a certain range before pouncing on it and holding it down with its sharp claws.
It then proceded to first take of the wings and ate only the body part. Maybe the wings are too dry and do not give them any nourishment whereas the body gives them moisture too.

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