I took a bunch of photos I didn’t like today, so here is another shot from yesterday’s praying mantis encounter.
Autumn Mantis
Tag: praying mantis
Jazz Hands
The mantis version.
I was just complaining about the lack of interesting insects in the garden – and then this one showed up, flashing her wings and waving her arms around. She had just suffered a close encounter with my cat, which probably explains her feisty mood.
The Last One
I may be wrong, but this could be the last mantis photo of the year. This female was looking for a place to lay her eggs under the rafters. The day after I took this photo I found an egg case up there. You know what that means? More praying mantis photos next year. 😉
You Again
I think this is the same little guy I discovered on one of my tomato plants earlier this month – he has unusual markings. Today I noticed him when he lunged at a skipper butterfly that was feeding on an escallonia blossom. He didn’t catch it, and I was glad I didn’t have to witness a skipper death. I wouldn’t mind so much if he’d catch a cabbage butterfly though – I’m tired of dealing with their voracious offspring. =)
Mantis
Another survivor from the “Summer of the Wasps.” I think this one might be looking for a spot to lay her egg case.
Survivor
Glad to see a mantis in the garden today. I was concerned that the wasps had gotten all of them.
Wounded Warrior
Yesterday as I was pulling some weeds in the garden, a wasp flew into the dill and attacked this little mantis. I intervened and collected the mantis from where it had fallen. It didn’t seem to be moving around normally after that, so I took it inside for the night. Today the mantis is looking quite battered and one of its arms isn’t working. I gave it a fly, which it appears to be interested in catching, but hasn’t managed to do so yet. So, apparently I’m running a praying mantis rehab center now.
Meal on the Fly
Meanwhile, back in Mantis World…
It isn’t the most crisp praying mantis shot, and I had the ISO cranked way up, but I got a lot of background bokeh in this one that I liked. Did a little arty-farty Photoshop processing as well (that’s the technical term, right?).
Just Another Mantis Monday
Can you stand another praying mantis photo? They won’t be around forever so I have to take advantage of them while they’re here. Especially when they’re posing like this.
