Look what came in on the washing!
A Dead Leaf Praying Mantis. It had been hiding between the folds of a cloth, but when I brought the washing in, it came out.
At first I thought it was a stick insect, but then I saw it's little head looking around, following my every move, just like a praying mantis does. Its curled around tail looked a bit like a scorpion, so I did a double take and had a closer look. My first instinct was right - it was harmless.
I put it near some dead leaves, and it hopped on with alacrity. It really did blend in. I would have walked right past it if I hadn't known it was there.
Sorry for the blurriness.
As well as its effective camouflage, it moved jerkily from side to side, like a dead leaf in the wind.
Some people may think it look scary, but I think it is a cool little beastie!
This photo was taken on the 27th March, 2010, early autumn in SE Queensland, Australia. I have lived here for over 20 years, but it is the first time I have seen one of these. Where I live there are a lot of eucalyptus trees, which I suspect is their natural habitat. I couldn't find any decent links for this.
At first I thought it was a stick insect, but then I saw it's little head looking around, following my every move, just like a praying mantis does. Its curled around tail looked a bit like a scorpion, so I did a double take and had a closer look. My first instinct was right - it was harmless.
I put it near some dead leaves, and it hopped on with alacrity. It really did blend in. I would have walked right past it if I hadn't known it was there.
Sorry for the blurriness.
As well as its effective camouflage, it moved jerkily from side to side, like a dead leaf in the wind.
Some people may think it look scary, but I think it is a cool little beastie!
This photo was taken on the 27th March, 2010, early autumn in SE Queensland, Australia. I have lived here for over 20 years, but it is the first time I have seen one of these. Where I live there are a lot of eucalyptus trees, which I suspect is their natural habitat. I couldn't find any decent links for this.