I was leaning the window washer brush up against the fence when I spotted this NZ Praying Mantis busy building an egg casing.
Click the thumbnails here to see a larger version and then view previous and next photos in the online album for more.
I need to remember to watch the egg casing in spring to see the young emerge.
Apparently that purple spot on the inside of her leg is a feature.
On the next fence picket along I then noticed this rather large spider.
After doing some searching I believe it may be a sheet web spider, but I’d love to hear from someone who could verify that or alternatively tell me what it really is.
Those legs extend all the way to the top of the picket, and down to the bottom edge of the photo. The 800*533 photo shows it best.
Yesterday it was a green stick insect that was hanging out near the house. It was quite a cutie: small and wobbly. It was missing its left front leg, but a new one was regenerating.
Meanwhile there are birds all over the flax and cabbage trees (no photos, I’m afraid), and the annoying caterpillars that strip our miniature kowhai have taken refuge on the walls of the house.
It’s autumn, all right.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Miraz: your sheetweb spider looks more like a harvestman to me.
Aren’t stick insects cool? Around Wellington I’ve spotted three different kinds – the green one you see there, a brown smooth one, and a rather spectacular brown spiky one.
Lastly – the egg case – keep an eye out for parasitic wasps. Bad news.
Thanks for the Harvestman tip, Alan. I think you’re right, after reading this:
http://www.backyardnature.net/longlegs.htm
I have a brown stick insect here:
http://www.oddity59.geek.nz/g2/v/wildlife/stick-insect-9339.jpg.html
It was so much like a twig I almost totally overlooked it.
Cheers,
Miraz
What do brown stick insects eat? if you know anything else that would help with kids keeping a brown stick insect let me know. I am a primary teacher and have a toddler. Kids love to keep stick insects, but I dont want to harm them. We put ours in a large fishbowl.
Hi Natasha,
there seems to be plenty of information that answers your question:
http://www.google.com/search?q=what+do+stick+insects+eat
Cheers,
Miraz