Mantid

I have never seen this species of praying mantis before – they are usually the common ones, where the eyes are the same colour as the body (i.e., dull brown or leafy green). This baby (about 1.5 to 2cm long) surprised me with its vivid eyes. I only managed a few shots before it flew away. A very windy day – the macro photographers worst enemy (that and too much coffee...).

UPDATE: it's not a praying mantis at all, but a mantid lacewing (also called a mantis fly) Family Mantispidae, order Neuroptera. The clear wings should have alerted me to it not being a mantis.