Five...

…………………………....…..Eyes



Featured is the South African praying mantis.

They arrived in NZ around 1978 and since then it has established itself well - to the detriment of New Zealand’s native mantis.

They always appear quizzical and very photogenic. They also make short work of eating monarch butterflies at all stages of the cycle. 

Five eyes - they have two compound eyes on either side of their head and three simple eyes in the centre of the head. See the triptych in extra showing this in detail.