Which Image is Real? Praying Mantis

Below are 4 images.

Only one is real. I know this because I took it myself.

My photo is of a praying mantis I found one summer evening hanging out on my deck.

The other 3 images are AI-generated. I created them using Ideogram.ai and ChatGPTChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, designed to understand and generate human... More.

Which one do you think is the real image? See the answer below!

The real image of the real praying mantis is:

Image #3

Some clues that give away the AI images:

🦵 1. Leg Structure and Joint Accuracy

#3 (REAL):

• The front raptorial legs show realistic segmentation and joint articulation, with clearly visible spines that match natural mantis anatomy.
• The hind legs are well-proportioned, and the placement of the legs in relation to the body and background is physically accurate, even though they partially disappear into shadow — that’s normal in natural lighting.

AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is basically when computers get smart—really smart. Imagine if your c... More:

• #1 has legs that appear slightly simplified or too smooth — particularly the right leg, which has an unnaturally clean curve.
• #2 shows weird limb geometry near the back legs and joints that feel overly mechanical.
• #4 has one leg that seems to be missing a joint entirely, especially around the midsection.

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👀 2. Head and Eye Detail

#3:

• The head and eyes are well-shaped but imperfect, with slight asymmetry between the two eyes. The subtle gloss and softness in the compound eyes is characteristic of real insect photography.
• The mouth area shows tiny details like mandibles and grooves — not overly sharp or smoothened, just subtly visible under natural light.

AI:

• #1’s eyes look too polished and lack microtexture.
• #2’s face has odd symmetry, and the antennae come out at odd angles.
• #4’s head has a cartoonish gleam, and the facial geometry feels AI-generated — especially around the eyes and temples.

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🌿 3. Lighting and Depth

#3:

• The mantis is well-lit, but not perfectly so — there’s subtle natural falloff in the lighting, creating shadows under the arms and along the head that look like what you’d see from a handheld macro lens.
• The depth of field is shallow, but consistent — parts of the mantis and background are soft, while the head and upper legs are tack-sharp.

AI:

• #1 and #2 both have overly even lighting, with little atmospheric variation.
• #4’s lighting looks staged, with shadows that don’t match the position of the antennae or limbs — a common AI mismatch.

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📸 4. Pose and Perspective

#3:

• The mantis is at a realistic and slightly awkward downward angle, looking toward the camera. It’s a position that would be difficult to invent convincingly without a reference.
• The foreshortening of the front legs and head tilt feel very photographic — imperfect but believable.

AI:

#2 and #4 feature mantises with poses that feel too symmetrical or rigid — especially in how the forearms are lifted and mirrored.

#1’s pose feels too “designed” — almost like it’s posing for a poster.

The Insane Biology of the Praying Mantis

Praying mantises might look calm and collected, but don’t let their zen poses fool you—they’re some of the most fascinating and fearsome insects on the planet.

With lightning-fast reflexes, 3D vision, and the uncanny ability to turn their heads like tiny exorcists, these creatures are biological marvels.

Watch the video below to dive into the insane science behind their incredible powers.

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