The J.G. Ballard short story "The Screen Game" was the inspiration for this tattoo. In the story, Esmeralda adorns all manner of insects with jewels, and they reap revenge against the man who has kept her a virtual prisoner.
The mantis has a fierce mystique, but it turns out she will only kill and eat the male after mating is she hasn't had enough food during the time she grows her eggs/egg sac.
