Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The Battle

Being a carnivorous insect, the praying mantis feeds primarily on live insects such as damselflies, crickets, beetles, moths and bees as well as small rodents, frogs, snakes and birds. As a hunter, mantis camouflages himself to blend in with the surroundings and wait quietly for approaching prey. It uses the raptorial front legs to quickly snatch the targeted prey. This is the image which I successfully captured in a bushes area of national park, the damselfly was attempt to get rid itself from the snatching of mantis.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © Lam Soon Tak