Like many insects, these things generally exist in the winter only in the form of eggs tucked away somewhere safe - at this time of year (it's autumn in Oz remember) the adult female is getting cold, her prey is scarce, and to ensure the continuation of her species she has to make a little foamy ootheca before her death. Come spring, ichneumons permitting, out will come a little regiment of baby mantids, at first hanging from silk threads, then going out to make their way in the world.
I don't know whether I've managed to express myself well enough, but it is something that to me is quite touching.
Needless to say, when I saw this one, I got my camera and took some snaps. It's Orthodera ministralis, the Garden Mantid. These things also have some pretty spectacular flash/display colouration.
http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/mantid.jpg
As you can see, it's just finishing up the ootheca, and had scarpered five minutes later.
*ist D, tamron 90mm/2.5 & 2x TC @ f8, 400ASA, inbuilt flash, af360fgz off camera, bit of afternoon sunlight.
David
