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Morning All,

I stumbled across this little fellow yesterday evening while looking for some blue banded bees in my yard.

I caught him in the last stages of shedding his skin (or what ever they do).
Only got 1 half decent shot.

Anyone know what the blue thing is on the leg in the second pic?

f/13
1/500 sec
Handheld
Flash
105 mm

GC - it is indeed a garden mantis - Orthodera ministralis, according to Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, is the commonest local mantids. One of the diagnostic features is the blue spot to which you refer, which may be used as a startle feature - when you disturb the insect, they spread their legs to display the blue colouration, which may startle whatever is going to eat it, and allow its escape.....
well, that's the theory anyway

Nice shots
Rel

Thanks heaps Rel for the interesting info. The blue coloration certainly had me puzzled.

If it's still there this arvo, I might try a few more shots.

This place amazes me, I go from the first shot which is really interesting and beautifully captured, to the second showing something I've never seen or noticed before in the bug world which is fascinating, then I get a detailed explanation too... I learn all sorts of stuff here... This is great

Great shots GC.

And I have to agree with Mudder. You never stop learning around here