This month Jude wants to see macros or close ups of anything you’d find in the garden, for her monthly Garden Challenge. I can’t remember what was going on here, if this is one bug or two, so if you have any ideas, please let me know. I’m hoping that Sonel may have the answer, some kind of mantis perhaps?
This image is from the Bird park in the 20 acre KL lake gardens, which reputedly has one of the largest free flight walk in aviarys in the world.
Lucid Gypsy 
What a shot! I bet it’s copulation. They’re creatures from sf. The box elder bugs were indulging in similar activity – the twins separated them because “they were fighting.”
Ah, Gilly I want to click on your photo and enlarge it, but you won’t let me! Looks like a mantis to me and as Meg says, definitely from sci-fi. Hard to tell if there is more than one. But thank you for sharing this unusual bug 😀
I don’t understand why somethings can be clicked and others can’t. There seems to be a general agreement that it’s a mantis!
If you edit the photo in your post and look at the display settings sometimes it reverts to none rather than media file. Then it is not clickable. I don’t know why it keeps changing though, does the same to me!
Interesting, yes I think a mantis and think only one, I think that is a dry bit of plant in front of him. (I’m doing a lot of thinking!!!! I must go and sit down now…) lovely sharp image Gilly.
I thought for a wee moment Gilly, that Devon had suddenly become very exotic (insect wise that is, I know Devon is very exotic in every other aspect 🙂 ). Your wee bug I think is a praying mantis, and probably a ‘budwing mantis’ to be a little more accurate 🙂
Not sure but I think it’s a mantis. It’s a great shot.
That’s an amazing shot–incredible detail!
Great close-up, Gilly. No idea what’s going on here, but all I know is that I don’t want to get any closer. 😯
What a remarkable macro shot!! 💖
Wow, up close and intimate with the bugs…..but surely not in your Devon garden Gilly?
No thank goodness, although they might dispatch the chuggy pigs!
What an exciting find and an awesome macro shot Gilly. The unexpected, usually, the praying mantis makes an appearance when we’ve flooded our lives with so much activity or chaos that we can no longer hear the still voice with in us because of the external din we’ve created.
After observing this creature for any length of time, you can see why the symbolism for the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. This is a message to us to contemplate and be sure our minds and souls all agree together about choices we are making in our lives. The Mathis never makes a move unless she is one hundred percent positive it is the right time and right thing for her to do.
Connie
I have macro envy! Marcos are a weak point for me but I love a good macro. Really nice shot
Stunning shot. Definitely a Mantis but which species I have no clue.
Thank you!
Here is a link to one of the groups on FB.
Worth a look, even if you don’t feel like joining.Its called Wildlife in my Garden, rather than several other South African ones I also follow.
Someone there will help with ID on the mantis I’m sure.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/795997537085036/
That you were allowed to get so close, I love it… Barbara x
my guess was a praying mantis – although I’ve never seen one live. and this looks like just one of them, along with a couple of leaves which are looking pretty dramatic themselves.
i looked up ‘budwing mantis’ as suggested by Fife Photos & Art, and that works for me. apparently some people keep these as pets, but given a choice, i prefer sharing my home with Timmy.
an incredible click! thanks for sharing.
I would definitely say it is a pray mantis .. very interesting colour 🙂
A scary praying mantis
I love the details and the composition on this photograph, Gilly.
Well done … 😎
It looks like a lone mantis to me Gilly. The brown bit in front is a dry leaf, and the orange, the underpart of its other cjaw/limb whatever! Just my two penny bit…..Sonel is the person. Fab shot!
Wow, what a fantastic capture!