Fauna / Land / Insects / Preying Mantis / Orthodera novaeseelandiae / Praying Mantis, Orthodera novaezealandiae 1.

This is New Zealands native Praying Mantis, Orthodera novaezealandiae. Unfortunately there seems to be less of them than there once was. In some areas they are displaced by Miomantis caffra a relatively recent arrival from South Africa. For images of Miomantis caffra look here. One of the easiest ways to tell Orthodera novaezealandiae is by the ear spot located on the front legs.