An Encounter with Green Conehead Mantises at the Maleha Desert in Sharjah

A ferocious side view of a ferocious female predator

Strategically positioned on top of a flowers in anticipation of prey

Carefully camouflaged on the rows of dark green leaves

Notice the cone like protrusion on its head that looks like a horn

I was back in the Maleha desert trail in Sharjah trying to observe the movement and numbers of locusts and grasshoppers on the desert grassland, when I stumbled upon an evergreen Sodom's Apple Tree adored with its radiant violet colored blossoms. Hidden among its branches, dark green leaves and the bundles of flowers were ferocious predators, Conehead Mantises on the hunt. Their sleek bodies and deep green coloration strategically allows these insect hunters to be camouflage in the chambers of this abundant green spot in the desert. Noticeable as well is the distinct cone like horn protruding on top of  its head. The cone shaped horn gives it a more ferocious appearance! The mantises where strategically positioning itself among the bundles of the violet flowers in anticipation of flying in pollinators. I forgot about my photo hunt for locusts and grasshoppers for a while, these praying predators took my full attention on the cool and windy morning out in the desert.

CONEHEAD MANTIS, Empusa pennata (MANTODEA: Empusidae)

Mantises always reminds us that sometimes beauty can be also ferocious and deadly!

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

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