The mantis in quastion is Empusa pennata. A young wingless nymph of that species.
In this opening picture, you can see the young mantis quiet in its typical pose, well camouflaged on the Asparagus acutifolius plant that looks a bit like a piece of green barbed wire. In the following photograph ...
... the insect is staring at the camera.
It was a nice, sunny day at the end of May, and I was picking the soft edible asparagus shoots when I noticed the mantis. Asparagus acutifolius produces delicious, very aromatic shoots in spring and a new generation of Empusa pennata can be usually seen in the same period. Young mantises of this kind aren't rare, but they are pretty hard to notice in their natural environment.
In the early stage of their life, Empusa pennata mantises can be very varied. The color can be different from individual to individual. I saw pale, almost white ones. Grey ones. Yellow-brown ones. Chestnut brown, almost red ones. Many young mantises come in a very fashionable combination of pink and olive green. In today's post, I'll show you only the green-brown version.
The adult mantis is also photogenic and interesting, but nymphs are more alien-like. I'm a big fan of this species, so I never get tired of observing them. In the following photograph ...
... the mantis is posing upside down.
AND THAT'S IT. I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY - NO MORE PICTURES TO SHOW. AS ALWAYS HERE ON HIVE, THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MY WORK - THE END.