Iris oratoria

Written by Webmaster Saturday, 04 December 2010 00:00

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"We can allow satellites, planets, suns, universe, nay whole systems of universes, to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, we wish to be created at once by special act." Charles Darwin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iris oratoria (Family: Mantidae; common name: Mediterranean mantis, Iris mantis)

Iris oratoria is a member of the Mantis family. Its most easily distinguishable characteristics (when compared to Mantis religiosa and other mantids) is a  red-orange spot on its underside and two large violet-brown eyespots on its hind wings which are obvious when the wings are unfolded. Iris oratoria has two well documented survival strategies. Firstly, it is reproduced by parthenogenesis in the absence of males. Secondly, the females may have an additional spawning season, i.e. produce nymphs after the egg case is produced in the main reproductive season. As with most members of the Mantidae family this species s a master of camouflage which makes it very difficult to spot in the wild. This Iris was found in West Peloponnese, Greece.

Photos by Mahi Goula and George Parchas

Shooting Data:

1.Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/200 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

2. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

3. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

4. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/13, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized. 

5. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/640 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized. 

6. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/100 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized. 

7. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500 sec - f/13, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.  

 

 

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