Lessons in life, you cannot go out, what now?
She must have arrived a week or two earlier, well camouflaged I did not notice on rusted burglar bars. Once I was aware I watched daily for two weeks, circle of life before ones own eyes.
Zulu communities highly respect the Praying Mantis, referring "Ugogo" as an ancestral spirit visiting to share a message. For me after the extreme flooding we have experienced over the last week was birth, young arrive to carry on a circle of life.
She was around 5 to 6 cm in length, Popa spurca - African Twig Mantis life span of approximately 12 months, will sheds up to 30 times before becoming an adult.
Her Mantis Egg case is called an ootheca wherein many eggs are hatched (measured around 2.5 cm length), she was exceptionally protective at all times.
Being situated where the window is never closed, must have enjoyed hunting her food source at night in the comfort of the dry area she selected on rusted burglar bars.
We have a great variety of mantis from small to large in South Africa, green and brown, some actually exceptionally colourful as well, this one conveniently showed me the lifestyle of an insect checking nymphs as they emerged.
Not social insects they leave the minute the little nymphs are all hatched, eventually slowly made her way to the window not to be seen again.
Much the same as the nymphs one by one go outdoors to the plants directly beneath the window with plenty of plants to hide. End of Adult life cycle perhaps once she escaped into the garden.
These events are photographed over the period 2nd April to 15th April, 2022, in other words yesterday. Today we have rain once again, fortunately not heavy with a little cold spell which is passing through KwaZulu-Natal.
Thanks for visiting and hope you find this Female African Twig Mantis as fascinating as I have. Lesson in life is there is always something happening, humans are not in the forefront of everything, we learn to adapt, perhaps learn as we navigate change via insects.
**My short video I took with Female African Twig Mantis and Nymph!**
Amazing Nature Contest:: FREE TOPIC - #1/4/22 host 
@bucipuci with Amazing Nature
Place to find out more research:
SANBI - "Praying mantis, is derived from the Greek word for ‘prophet’ or ‘soothsayer’, and comes from the spiny, raptorial forelegs that gives it the characteristic praying posture when stationary"
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer in nature, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "The spider that knows what it will gain sits waiting patiently in its web. The praying mantis is never tired waiting all day." - Nigerian proverb
Communities to Enjoy On Hive: #lifestylelounge 
