You Call Those Wings?

What am I looking at?

This is an adult female budwing mantis (Parasphendale affinis). In this image, we can see its eyes (1), mandibles (2), grasping forelegs (3), and a glimpse of its namesake wings in the background (4).

Biology in the Background

Budwing mantises are native to Kenya and are known for their voracious appetites. In fact, when kept in captivity, they have been known to eat themselves to the point of illness when allowed unlimited access to food. They are active hunters and tend to chase down their prey rather than hunting from ambush. They are a relatively hearty species with a lower than usual mortality rate as nymphs (a developmental life stage during which mantises are more vulnerable than adults). This makes them popular pets because they are easily fed and survive well in captivity.  

The females of this species can grow up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches), or roughly half the length of your whole hand. The males, which have relatively longer wings and are capable of flight, are considerably smaller, growing to only about 5 centimeters (about 2 inches), or a little shorter than the length of your thumb.

Technique

This image was created using macrophotography.