Last Mantis

Of all the scores of praying mantis nymphs I found in the spring and early summer, this is the only one I can find now. I’m hoping they have gone up into the trees where I can’t see them.

When I saw this one two days ago I decided it was in it’s 4th instar, but it must have cast another skin since then because now it’s in its 5th instar, with well developed wings and wing cases. One more moult to adulthood.

The high today was 30.6ºC. Without the thin cloud and light southerly it would have been much higher.