Image: Mantis Fly - Genus Plega

Description: Macrophotograph of a live unique Neuropteran in the Mantispidae family that is usually 1.5 inches in length, flies like a lace wing or ant lion, can mimic wasps, but hunts like a Praying Mantis using the same kind of pincer-like, grasping, powerful modifications of the front two legs. With eyes like these, the hunting comes easy. Even the larvae are carnivores, feeding on spiders and spider eggs and larvae. Very close macrophotograph of a live Mantisfly using Kodak Panatomic-X black and white negative 35 mm film. Photograph of live Mantisfly found in the Santa Rita Mts. of Arizona, USA, August 1963. Equipment used to capture such close-ups of live insects was Asahi Pentax 35 mm film camera, with highly extended 50 mm lens using extension tubes for macrophotography, and a Strobonar Futuramic II electronic flash. Original 12 x 15 black and white print on Kodak Polycontrast N photopaper was scanned in 2010 to produce a digital version of this stunning photograph.
Title: Mantis Fly - Genus Plega
Credit: Own work
Author: Ron Sterling
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License: CC BY 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes