Here's a better look:
It turns out this piece of legged bark has a name: the Grizzled Mantis (Gonatista grisea). It kept skittering in a quick crab-walk around the trunk as I chased it in circles with my camera. I did manage a few more pictures:
In retrospect, I should've cornered it and harassed it more. The result is this spectacular display.
I hadn't realized there were such crazy-looking mantids in the US. I'll have to dig out and share some pictures of even crazier tropical mantis species that I used to keep.
That must have been startling!
ReplyDeleteI like the display picture you linked to. The mantis looks like he's rocking out to some great music.
Wow, great find!
ReplyDeleteIn the top photo, I think I also see a moth about a third of the way down.
Perfectly camouflaged. Didn't see it at all at first.
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty crazy. I agree, you should've harassed it more. Could've been quite the show hahah.
ReplyDeleteHow did you spot it? http://d-wing.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete