Accidentally cool...

[CaraRose]

So yesterday I'm in the forest preserve and I see a moth land on a leaf about 6' from the trail. Just a boring grey moth but I like to shoot them for possibly ID's and to work on getting focus on small objects from afar. I start taking a few shots and suddenly he seems like he was grabbed. Couldn't tell what so I just aimed and fired a burst at him. I tried to get a little closer and see if I could see what had taken the moth and couldn't find the moth or his attacker at all.

I get home, start going through shots... hrm... there's the moth, missed the focus on this shot and--- WAIT A SECOND!







Not the best shots, but considering I didn't have a clue the mantis was there until I got home, I'm pretty happy with them.

[armando_m]

so lucky !!! amazing shots, imagine if they were sharp ? NG material !!

poor thing didn't stand a chance vs such a large mantis!

[mjs1973]

Very cool Cara! I have never seen a praying mantis in the wild. Is that moth juice in that 2nd image?

[CaraRose]

Very cool Cara! I have never seen a praying mantis in the wild. Is that moth juice in that 2nd image?

I think so. Either that or scales from its wings maybe? Wish that one was sharper!

[hakurtz]

great shots! thanks for sharing!

[Loupey]

Awesome find! I haven't found a single mantis this year and I've been looking.