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Project Noah Nature School
Campion impressus
A large lacewing insect with powerful grasping forelegs similar to a mantis
Perched on a Casuarina bush
Last pic is an older spotting in Northern Territory. The first mantis-fly i'd seen. Check this other one http://www.flickr.com/photos/30186714@N0... http://www.flickr.com/photos/87155171@N0... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/171...
Spotted on Dec 25, 2011
Submitted on Dec 25, 2011
19 Comments
I agree, looks like a different species. Interesting.... Thanks martini I will look at a few others. I fluked the name :)
Thanks Gilma.
I've seen this twice, and in the same location.
Amazing creature. I have never seen one before, I love it.
Sorry argybee, this is the indian mantis lacewing here
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/775...
Unbelievable organism.. great find Martin...!!
No that one is near Gurindji martin.?
They are in India too! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/819...
Another spotting about two weeks later (pic #4) seemed smaller but looks like the same species.
Amazing!
Its both weird and rare beauty...
Its a both weird and rare beauty...
Thanks for your comments. This was an exciting find.
And I thought Brazil had strange criters...
I have never seen this before. WOW!
Beautiful mantis fly spotting.
Nice capture :)
Seems you caught me out; I glued them on:) Check the link, to Daves Garden (and see all three images) to check one using its forelegs. When you see a pic with white sheet background, it was intentionally attracted by a night lamp against a white sheet.
The more you look the weirder it gets. Are you sure you didn't glue this thing together from spare parts martinl? So he figured four legs are plenty enough to get around on... then if he moves two legs forwards on an very extended thorax he can turn them into grabbers. An interesting experiment. Wonder how it works for them. Would love to see them in action.
What a great picture and amazing insect !