Saturday, October 24, 2009

Ready for My Close Up

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), writer, poet

(click on the pictures for an even closer look)


This predatory, cannibalistic insect is known by his religious name Praying Mantis. He loves aphids, which is why he was allowed to remain. However, once I got a good look at him (I am assuming he is a him, but he could be a her), it would be very difficult for me to do anything other than pick him up and move him/her to another destination.


If his cousins, termites and cockroaches, come around they will be dealt with harshly.

1 comment:

Nice Jewish Artist said...

Must be praying mantis season in SoCal -- mark at BoingBoing posted on Nov 2 with the same topic and some pix -- no credit given to you, of course (ha ha).