The Last Mantis

As a kid there was always one bug that eluded me... the Praying Mantis.  I loved looking at pictures in books or the specimens at the museums but I had never seen one alive in the wild.  Jump 30 years later and there everywhere.  At least in New Mexico they are.  Its the end of the their season and they pop up everywhere.  This guy was on our back porch and got caught in last nights freeze. I warmed him up on a window sill and he was good to go (Although he is starting to go blind).

The Ellusive Cicada

When I was young I spent a lot of time chasing and capturing Cicadas.  I kept a large collection of Cicada Shells in coffee cans in my parent's garage.  I even tried keeping one for a pet until it decided to make their distinct sound inside my parents house and that was the end of that.  I've never let go of my facination to this insect.  Bridget found this guy while we were walking V.  I used extension tubes on the D700 on a white background and added texture and color in post.