This little Praying mantis jumped onto my long lens out of nowhere. My DSLR camera was 'busy' being attached to the lens. So, a compact camera had to do for documentation purposes. Out of a dozen photos I chose to present this one because it shows a difficult, natural looking pose combined with a meaningful background. You'll get a sense that the animal measured only a couple of millimetres. The animal also makes eye contact that looks fine in human terms. Normally, the animals simply turn their eye balls and watch you while their body is pointed into a different direction. Often, it is also quite hard to make their front catchers show as they are normally closer to their bodies and more closed. Did you know what the difference is between a Stick Insect and a Praying mantis? The praying mantis is a carnivorous hunter while the stick insect is a vegetarian. Watch this guy deploy its front legs, catch and eat prey and you'll never forget. I assume this guy is an early instar of a much bigger animal and it will shed its exoskeleton a few times before adulthood. It is hard not to fall in love with these animals. They look at you, and move their bodies rhythmically like a leaf in the wind even when walking, so totally relying on their camouflage. Maybe it is coincidence but every time those jump up to us out of nowhere, they ruin my photographers rest and BBQ. Enjoy!