I realize that the praying mantis is not unique to South Africa, but the fellow in the first couple of photos was just too awesome to not share. John found it on our “porch” just outside our front door. It was far from vegetation so its body built for camouflage among leaves was not serving it well.
The other specimen (pic #3)would have also probably gone unnoticed among plants except that it was on a white metal fence rail. This praying mantis was more like the type I have seen a few times back in the States.
I don’t know if it’s because I am living in a rural area and there are a LOT of bugs around or because I have so much more time on my hands, but either way, I seem to spend a lot of time noticing the different types of critters and their activities. The praying mantis at the top gets the Best In Show thus far.
