Praying mantis (Choeradodis rhomboidea). This specimen,from French Guiana,South America,has been preserved so that its haemolymph (body fluid) can be extracted. It has a distinctive kite-shaped shield behind its head and upper body. Mantids are sit-and-wait predators,catching prey with their large front legs. Females also consume their mates during or after mating. This and other insects are being screened in search of new antibiotic,anti-inflammatory,anti-viral and anti-cancer drugs by a company called Entomed,based in Strasbourg in France. Between 1999 and 2003,Entomed analysed more than 175 novel molecules with potential medical effects | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Steger, Volker |
Bildgröße: | 3699 px × 4926 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |