When not on the hunt, the giant #asian #mantis (#Hierodula sp.), snuggles close to plants it stalks, rendering itself almost invisible, and therefore, safe from marauding predators like birds and lizards looking for an alfresco snack.

Insects such as preying mantids offer us an invaluable service of free, and organic pest control, improving the quality of our lives in our great cities.

📸 30 MAR 2023 (12:17 hrs.) at Mulund East, Mumbai, India

Shot on my Nothing Phone (1).

A Giant Asian Mantis (#Hierodula sp.) stalks a tropical milkweed bush, hoping to nab an alfresco meal (read: any bug it can murder), while keeping a wary eye on clueless bystanders oblivious to it's existence.

Preying mantids perform an invaluable job of free pest control, improving the quality of our lives in our great cities.

📸 30 MAR 2023 (12:19 hrs.) at #mulund East, #mumbai, #india.

#entomology #insects #insectsofmastodon #InsectsOfTheFediverse #mantis #naturalhistory #MumbaiUnseen

Finally, the project also highlights new exotic species such as #Hierodula transcaucasica (the Transcaucasian Giant #Mantis) here, proudly sitting on a garbage bin.

(c) laurelinesastre
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141992488