#popa spurca

[mostlymantis]

dogwood says TRANS RIGHTS !!!

[morbidsmenagerie]

Mantises at the insectarium, we got some new species in!

[candoia-aspera]

Ocha’s twig impression is so good you guys.

They totally blend in, almost invisible to the naked eye.

[mantismonarch]

Popa spurca (African twig mantis) L4 nymphs. Checking out the differences of the sexes at this young age.

[kamakiricollection]

Popa spurca

[welcometobugworld]

L2 Popa Spurca - African stick mantis 'Slim Jim'

[illutron]

[mantidsonly]

popa spurca-african twig mantis

[collectiveofanimals]

African Twig Mantis

Popa spurca

Popa means boy, while spurca translates into dirty.

Family: Mantidae (Most Mantises)

Fun Fact: Similar to walking stick insects, these praying mantises will camouflage acting like a twig to both ambush prey and to hide from predators.

Habitat: They are endemic to savannas of southwest and central eastern Africa. (Source)

Ecosystem Role: They help control insect populations, while providing food for birds, lizards, and possibly monkeys.

[mostlymantis]

girl who is so fucking stick

[morbidsmenagerie]

Popa spurca at PDXinsectarium

[candoia-aspera]

Ocha matured! Looks like a male to me, but this is my first time maturing this species so if anyone more experienced wants to weigh in, please do. Either way they ended up with a beautiful silvery grey colouration that I absolutely love.

The adult molt is always such a bittersweet experience. It feels great to know that you kept your bug happy and healthy enough to get them all the way here, but it’s also the beginning of the end.

For now, Ocha is getting some fancy new digs to go with the fancy new look, and plenty of congratulatory snacks.

[mantismonarch]

"Living in Gray" Popa spurca (African twig mantis) adult male molted April 17th. He has two fine young ladies I matched up for him. #popaspurca #africantwigmantis #stickmantis #prayingmantis #mantis #mantodea #natgeo #insects #wildlife #nature #animals #alien #pets #exotic #photography #mantismonarch #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #mood #grim #aesthetic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_LNI0aBql6/?igshid=18vp9co9qp27o

[kamakiricollection]

Popa spurca (Веточный богомол).

[underthehedge]

Pictures of an L2 Popa spurca crassa nymph, aka the African twig mantis.

Just messing about, but I'm actually well chuffed with these photos.

This is a cryptic mantis, getting progressively more twig-like as it ages. Left undisturbed they push out their arms and sit at funny angles to appear more like sticks. Imagine stick insects with a voracious appetite for flesh.

Cute little buggers.

[animals-animals-animals]

African Twing Mantis (Popa spurca) (by Mariska Boertjens)