Like a mantis needs a bicycle? Incredible close up shot of a praying mantis in Borneo makes viewers double take

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Getting tyred?: The praying mantis balances on the curled-up fern, giving the impression he is hunched over the handlebars of a rather splendid, or should we say spoketacular, green bicycle

This is the incredible snapshot that appears to show an insect riding off into the sunset on a bicycle.
Amateur macro photographer Eco Suparman, 23, was amazed when the praying mantis he was photographing in Indonesia jumped up onto a curled plant - and looked just like he was pedalling away into the sunset.
Eco, from Borneo, Indonesia, had already noticed the plant, but was more interested in photographing the bug nearby up-close, when by an incredible stroke of luck, the insect decided to 'go for a ride'.
Mantises have two grasping, spiked forelegs ('raptorial legs') in which prey items are caught and held securely. In the picture the mantis appears to be using them to steer the bicycle.
The 23-year-old student said he instantly reached for his camera when he saw the creature, knowing it would make an interesting picture but he couldn't believe his luck when it appeared to pose for him.

'I took this photo on a Muslim cemetery in the Ambawang River village, Borneo Island, Indonesia,' said Suparman. 'I was practising my macro photography, and there are a lot of small insects there, so it's one of my favourite places to go and get some good shots.
'I was focusing on taking pictures of the mantis when I noticed the curled plants nearby. Straightaway I thought it looked like a bike - but I couldn't believe my luck when the mantis walked over and climbed onto the plant.
'I was so excited about taking the shot, but I was worried the mantis would walk away, or that the leaves would move. As soon as I got home, I showed the image to the family and friends and they were all shocked at how much the picture looks like the insect is riding a bike. I'm really glad I was able to photograph such an amazing piece of nature's art.'

source: dailymail

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I think I'll have the fish for lunch: Praying mantis tucks into goldfish after LIFTING it out of bowl

By DAVID RICHARDS

Mmm that looks tasty: The praying mantis looks down into the fish bowl and spies the goldfish

This huge praying mantis managed to lift a dead goldfish out of it's bowl - and eat it for lunch.

The extraordinary process was captured on camera by wildlife photographer Scott Cromwell.

Scott, 40, said: "I noticed one of my goldfish had suddenly died and was floating in the bowl.

"My pet mantis hadn't eaten in a couple of days, and I was interested to see how it would react to the fish.

"I put the mantis on the lip of the bowl and waited.


The mantis then climbed over the lip of the bowl and grabbed hold of the dead fish


"This is a budwing mantis and they are one of the few mantises that will eat dead prey.

"Since I had a hungry one, I figured he might save me the job of removing the fish - and get me an interesting set of pictures too."

Scott, from Oklahoma, United States, said the mantis crawled inside the glass so it was partially submerged.

He explained: "It was watching the live fish most of the time, and they were really wary - none of them would go near it.


This'll do me: Much to the horror of the other goldfish the mantis wanders off with its catch

"But it didn't take long for the mantis to grab hold of the dead goldfish, carefully hauling it out while maintaining its grip on the rim of the bowl." Scott allowed his mantis to tuck into the fish but decided to remove the carcass before the ravenous insect had gorged itself on the huge meal.

He added: "I was afraid it would start eating the bones and I wasn't sure if they would hurt it, so I managed to retrieve the remains from it's grasp.'

source: dailymail

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