Occurred on September 7, 2020 / Dohr, Germany Info from Licensor: "Last summer I also spent time observing, photographing and filming social wasps in my garden in Dohr (in the Eifel region) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. I spent hundreds of hours observing and arranging until the animals got used to me (and I got used to them) and then I managed to take some extraordinary pictures. Honey bees, wasps, field wasps and hornets gather at a drinking trough filled with water or sugar water and enjoy drinking the energizing liquid. A European praying mantis (Mattis religiosa) was also sitting nearby, enjoying a grasshopper. The praying mantis has a slender, elongated body shape and reaches a size of 5 to 8 centimetres. It is usually green or brown in color, which makes it blend in perfectly with its surroundings. Its triangular head is extremely agile and can be turned up to 180 degrees, which helps it to spot prey. The large compound eyes give it excellent spatial vision. The front tentacles are strong and covered with spines to hold the prey securely. The praying mantis is a skillful ambush hunter. It waits patiently until a potential prey animal such as a grasshopper approaches. It remains almost motionless, which makes it difficult for its prey to recognize. As soon as a grasshopper is within reach, the praying mantis fixes its eyes on it. Thanks to its excellent perception, it can accurately estimate the distance to its prey. In a flash, the mantis's tentacles spring forward and grab the grasshopper. The thorns on the legs prevent the prey from escaping. The attack is so fast that it is often barely perceptible to the human eye. The praying mantis immediately begins to eat its prey, often while it is still alive. It usually eats from the head or chest area, as these parts are particularly rich in nutrients. It crushes the grasshopper piece by piece with its powerful mouthparts. The European praying mantis is an important part of the ecosystem as it regulates the populations of other insects. At the same time, it impresses with its efficiency and precision as a hunter."