Yes, those legs are mine...

Praying mantis, crawling from behind a bench... one more time...
Click on the photo for the big version...

Well hello there gorgeous...

Praying mantis, crawling from behind a bench... To my surprise they're actually smaller than pictures like these had me believe... Their 180 degrees rotating head is quite amazing, and I could get it to look at me by softly blowing in its directing... Usually you see the green version, but I didn't have a choice, this one was brown... Had to use flash though, it was wobbling in a somewhat dark corner...

Look at the spikes on its front legs, I wouldn't want to be another insect caught in those big eyes, they are ferocious. And a well known fact: the female chews up the male during copulation... She doesn't even wait till the pleasure moment: usually she starts nibbling on his head half way, the poor sod... Talk about one night stands...

Click on the photo for the big version if you dare...