On an Easter Lily
It was raining and, I was under a carport when I first spotted the critter.
Don't let the photo fool you. I rotated it for a better view.
The praying mantis, was using the lily as an umbrella, I think.
The cold rain, soaking me started getting on my nerves so, I came up with an idea.
Without disturbing the predator, I snipped the flower off the plant with some scissors.
And, I brought the Easter Lily into my office. Mrs. Yamashiro will never notice, hope.
While I was running around the office, looking for some white paper, the bug got busy.
It crawled up inside the flower so, I couldn't see its head. That wasn't a good idea.
First, I snipped off the other end of the lily but, still couldn't get a good shot.
The next thing I did, was cut the whole flower wide open and, shook the bug out.
Once, it got on that white paper, I had to do some fast shooting.
The rascal, didn't seem too excited and, just gave me a dirty look.
Then I decided, it might be a good idea, to tryout a black background.
Only a few quick shots were taken here and, the mantis started running around.
It climbed up the wall, all the way to the ceiling and, I couldn't reach it.
So, I grabbed a stepladder and Mrs. Yamashiro's shredded flower, to catch the thing.
The idea, was to get the thing, back out in nature, untouched by human hands.
When, I bounced off the ladder, with the bug inside the flower, it escaped.
It flew, directly at me and, landed on my shoulder. Out the door, I went.
Then, I ran back over to the garden, I shook myself like a wet puppy.
The last time I saw the bug, it gave me a dirty look and, ran down my back.
Bugs don't scare me but, praying mantis are, really some wild characters.
Did you know, sometimes a female will bite her mate's head off, while they're having sex ?
