This lovely mantis was one of my most frequently photographed insect this year, so I think it deserves a special post.
In the last ten years (maybe more) I’ve only found the species as nymphs in August-September in Romania, and October in Cyprus. This was due to its life-cycle, which is a bit stranger compared to the other mantis species in Romania: the young emerge in August, they hibernate, only to become adults in May-June the next year.
This year however, I’ve also had the luck to find in June a perfect spot with a few adults. Too bad I didn’t quite appreciate this at the time, and only very few shots were taken. After that, it was only in August that I would meet again this fantastic-looking insect. And again as nymphs. This time many (and I mean MANY) “shots were fired”!
In total, I think I’ve found about 60 to 70 individuals, so it seems that the species is quite common locally.
For the next year I promise myself to take advantage of the new-found location and create an even longer (and perhaps better) photo-album of Empusa fasciata.
The following shots are shown chronologically, and were taken in June, August, September 2019. If I will (very possible) meet again the species this year, new shots will be posted here.
maximus photography 