Midwinter Feast

If you are squeamish look away now!

Praying mantis, Orthodera novaezealandiae, a female. You can just see the turquoise and purple patch on the inside of her leg, which distinguishes her from the introduced South African mantis. I didn't see what the fly was, but it was probably a drone.

This is not a scene I expect to see in the middle of winter. However, whenever the sun comes out, even if only for and hour or so, insects can be seen on the viburnum flowers. Today I also saw flies, a honeybee and a bumblebee.

Large

Snow is forecast to 500 metres tonight. We might get winter yet.