Young Mantis

Praying mantis, Orthodera novaezealandiae, a New Zealand native.

A few weeks ago I discovered this mantis on a leaf beside the front path. Then it was a tiny nymph little more than 1cm long, rather like this one. It doesn't stray from the three-part leaf and although it blends in so well I can easily find it. I have watched it grow and now it is 2.5cm long. Its wings and wing cases have sprouted. They look like sycamore seed wings along its side.

Large

Cloudy again. No comet.

Last year there was a fresh fall of snow on the mountains.