The Green Monster !

Is it ET? Great shot

WOW !!! great shot !!!
the front legs look kind of like a preying mantis but the rest of it doesn’t !! LOL
fabulous !!!

amazing macro! great detail

no idea on the variety but what an amazing critter …
excellent capture

The aliens have landed!
He’s a gorgeous what ever he is.
Lovely shot
j

Looks like a mini dragon to me! Fantastic capture, colourful, clear, crisp, perfect

Great shot ! What a monster…

Awesome detail, top shot

fantastic!

I believe its a male leaf mantis.
Mantises are masters of camouflage and most species make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage or substrate, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. Various species have adapted to not only blend with the foliage, but to mimic it, appearing as either living or withered leaves, sticks, tree bark, blades of grass, flowers, or even stones. Some species in Africa and Australia are able to turn black after a molt following a fire in the region to blend in with the fire ravaged landscape (fire melanism). While mantises can bite, they have no venom, and are not dangerous to humans. They do not appear to be chemically protected; nearly any large predatory animal will eat a mantis if it is able to detect it (mantises are generally quite aggressive towards one another, in fact, and most species are readily cannibalistic when given the opportunity).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantodea
Good things to have around.. Great shot..

Whatever it is, it’s one beautiful creature! Mind you, I’m pleased it’s a very small beast – I’d be scared witless if I came across a human-sized thing like this. Fantastic photo. I love the sharp detail in the head, and the foreleg with hairs and pollen.

Thanks Chuck, for the info on the male leaf mantis. The guy in my photo is only approx 1cm. in length, whereas the leaf mantises appear to be much, much larger. It certainly has many of the traits of a mantis, but I can’t account for the tiny size.

Just sent ya a bubblemail.. We were out on a garden tour today. They grow fast and eat many bugs. And each other when young. Also they look like a smaller version of there parents and what they will look like as adults. Could be wrong but I don’t think so..

The pictures I could find on Wkipedia of Leaf Mantids don’t look much like this. I’m sure this is an Ambush Bug (Phymata americana). They have mantis-like front legs.

wow beautiful!

I agree with Kane….it’s an Ambush Bug. Rather freaky looking things!

What a beauty!