Yes, back at my favourite patch of flowers. It's getting late in the year, so that means that the mantids and spiders are getting fat and laying eggs for the next generation that will hatch in the spring.
*full disclosure, this one was near a rice field not the flower patch
Back to the flower patch:
You'd think that such a large insect would be easy to spot! Even though the larger mantids here are about 10-12 cm they still blend in very very well. They are ambush predators afterall, I guess that shouldn't be that unexepected.
There are two species of large mantids here, the long slender one above and a shorter but stockier species:
Looking over its hunting grounds:
No mantid in the last photo, I just love the orange colour!
Have a great day!