Praying mantis looks like walking dried twigs. The eyeballs are enormous compared to the size of its head. The mouth piece is very small and this give the head an overall triangle shape. It is weird looking like some alien from outer space.
The front pair of legs are habitually in a praying hands posture, thus its moniker.
It has an adventurous spirit and nimbly crossed this floral bridge of variegated bougainvillea.
Every now and then it stop to survey the surroundings from a leafy podium.
It selected a vantage point to have a good view of my garden and stayed a long time, possibly to reflect.
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest" - Confucius
It finally settled on a pale yellow leaf, without any variegations. When I got clicking away,
it turned to face me, and I gotcha this shot with the half-opened bedroom eyes, scrutinising me.
Pure white flowers on yellow-green variegated leaves.
This is the stomping ground of this intrepid praying mantis. Light purple and white flowers are borne on the same stem. Light blue Plumbago Auriculata flowers and numerous leaf blades of Neomarica longifolia (Yellow Walking Iris) are seen below it.
An antique silver neck ring (hansuli) worn by women living in the Rajasthan Punjab region.
(circa early 20th century, from my sister's collection)
Pure white flowers on yellow-green variegated leaves.
(circa early 20th century, from my sister's collection)
Hi Stiletto...
ReplyDeleteThe photos nicely captured .. in malay we call it mentadak mentadu...we used to ask this mentadak how our friends sleep..heheh...u shd try it to u know..it will show you...:)
Hi Ummu, I did a bit of research and came out with this; When we see a praying mantis, we said "Mentadak mentadu, macam-mana engkau tidur” and it shall respond by dancing :) This is interesting. The next time when I come across a praying mantis, I shall try this out.
DeleteInteresting play of images with the praying mantis... Happy new year to you and your loved ones!
ReplyDeleteThanks for appreciating. Happy New Year to you and family.
DeleteI love your shot looking out over the shoulder of the mantis, can't help wonder what it's thinking about :) Maybe planning its New Year resolutions?
ReplyDeleteIt must be looking out for preys. Much as I would like to think so, I don't think it was really interested in my garden or admiring the view.
DeleteHappy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the mantis facing you with its 'what are you looking at ?' expression on its face.
My interest was piqued by that expression and the slit-like eyes. Looked like it was sleep-deprived.
DeleteThanks Aaron. There are certainly less of this critters compared to my childhood days, which so sad. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteNow I know why is called a praying mantis, beautiful pictures, greetings, pa
ReplyDeleteHi zapach, now you can also see why they said that 'A picture speaks a Thousand words'.
DeleteI love your bougainvillea, i wonder why i don't get the variegated type. I don't stay at home most times, so our plants are not taken care of well. I love them too, i even wanted to make several colors by grafting to one trunk, i know how to do that, but don't have the time. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi Kalantikan, Happy New Year. This is actually a variegated type with white flowers. I did not do grafting of any sort. One fine day, the stems with non-variegated leaves appeared. I let it be and later, light purple bracts(Mrs Eva)emerged. So, viola I have two colours on the same bush!
DeleteUwielbiam to pnącze. Ono jest piękne. Mam nadzieję, ze modliszka mu szkód nie robi. Zdjęcia modliszki z dużymi oczami są niesamowite. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteI love the vine. It is beautiful. I hope the praying mantis does not harm him. Pictures of praying mantis with big eyes are amazing. Yours.
Fortunately praying mantis don't not chew on leaves unlike the grasshopper. Actually the praying mantis has big eyeballs but squinty eyes as seen from the photos. Regards to you.
DeleteI’m always amazed with your sharp but warm observant eye. The reflective praying mantis is reflected partly on a leaf. The Confucian words is so true. Have a happy, healthy year ahead with smiles, Stiletto.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Thanks Yoko for being so generous with your positive comments. The praying mantis stayed motionless for so long on the leaf, that it just crossed my mind that it might be reflecting on some deep issues :)
DeleteFine pictures! Quite a prayer...An awesome flower bush and a beautiful neck ring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Satu. The images of the praying mantis were not as clear as I would like them to be. The light levels were low as it was towards dusk and the critter was so tiny. It was quite difficult to lock-in the focus with macro.
DeleteHi Stiletto! I'm back, and have finally caught up with your post of this small Praying Mantis. I have always thought them such interesting insects, and your photos are just fine.I took some myself this summer of a white one, but they are not as good as yours.Your Yellow Walking Iris flowers are magnificent, as is your sisters necklace.
ReplyDeleteHi Breathtaking, welcome back. I have not heard of white praying mantis, must check out your post if you have posted it. Yellow Walking Iris flowers are not shown in this post. The flowers next to the neck ring are those of Bougainvillea.
DeleteI wished praying mantis makes its home in my garden.
ReplyDeleteThey don't seemed stay in my garden longer than a day.
How about in your garden - do you always find them or occasionally?
They are actually very elusive. I happened to come across this one when I scrutinized a flower. It was so tiny and at dusk, I simply couldn't focus properly, resulting in less than optimal shots. When I was a child I used to see large green ones and they look vicious.
Delete