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I was out photographing insects, mostly damselfly, when this mantis nymph came into view in my frame. It's the first mantis I've seen this year, so I got a couple of photos. To my surprise, the damselfly then landed on the same plant. Yes, it is larger than the mantis, but that doesn't dissuade this consummate hunter.

The mantis very slowly turned its head, as shown here (even the tiniest ones are instinctively very patient hunters). Eventually it turned its whole body and was facing up. The damselfly didn't leave the plant in the several minutes I watched both insects; I suspect it decided to roost there for the night. I would guess the damselfly won't wake up tomorrow morning.

Tags:   damselfly mantis mantis nymph insect predator and prey insects

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I didn't realize that at some point it had been blown onto its back when I took this shot. :-)

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Flickr Lounge: fill the frame

Ants are attracted to the trumpet vine even before the blossom opens, so I wasn't surprised to find a large ant on its open flower. Trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans.

Tags:   ant trumpet vine wildflowers Flickr Lounge fill the frame

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Rifflebugs

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