Wildlife photographer Pang Way meticulously captured wonderful moments of the mantis species possessing rare colorful wings.
However, a large part of photographer pang Way’s work is associated with very small animals, mantises.
Mantises are known as formidable predators. They have a poised triangular head on a long neck or elongated chest, two eyes and one ear. The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees, using its large compound eyes to scan around areas.
The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head 180 degrees. When you try to approach the mantis from behind, you will definitely be startled because it can turn its head to look at you. In the world, there is no insect that can do this.
Mantises are usually green or brown in color, well camouflaged in their surroundings. They use their front legs to grasp prey with reflexes so fast that they are difficult to detect with the naked eye. Their legs are equipped with sharp spikes to catch prey and pin them in place.
Very few photographers can fully capture the amazing beauty of this ‘crazy’ creature and Pang Way is one of those few.
The targets of mantises are usually moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies… but these brutal insects sometimes eat their own kind. Adult females, after mating, will immediately eat their partner.
A 2016 study found that female mantises that cannibalize their mates gain important amino acids, and that this action may help them lay twice as many eggs as normal.
Therefore, the male’s sacrifice is not so useless, at least its nutrients help DNA have a high chance of being passed on to the next generation.