Alien Mantis - D700, 70-200 w/extention tube

For the last couple of years we have almost always had a mantis or two in the garden. They lay an egg case in the same shrub (scotch broom) every year. This year I got to see the female lay the egg case. I was on my way out the door to get a haircut and took a quick for the mantis…WOW…there she was in the scotch broom laying the egg case.

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Mantis Laying Egg Case - D700, 24-70mm

Not the greatest photo of the day but hey it’s my first time seeing this…pretty neat. After she was done laying the egg case she climbed over to the Russian sage, where there were plenty of bees, and did some hunting.

Hunting Trip Interruption - D700, 70-200 w/extention tube

And here we are feasting on bees in the Russian sage…

Bee For Lunch - D700, 24-70 w/extention tube

Off With His Head - D700, 24-70 w/extention tube

Quick Cleanup - D700, 24-70 w/extention tube

She didn’t take long to eat the bee, did a quick cleanup and back to hunting. She had three or four bees as I was watching and taking photos.

I had a white translucent diffuser with me so I put it behind the mantis and Russian sage for this next image. All in all it was quite a interesting morning…yes, I was a little late for my haircut.

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Mantis & Sage on White - D700, 24-70mm