If I could describe it I'd do a web search. Help!

[JBW]

[Tronhard]

Hi Brian:

I'm no entomologist, but it looks suspiciously like a stick insect to me. Might be worth doing a search under that criterion.

[John 2]

Try under "Weird and Wonderful". It certainly is a fascinating creation of nature. Nice capture.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[IzzieK]

Interesting, Brian...exotic warm climate islands have more specimens in their backyard...your backyard. Nice shot.

[JBW]

Interesting, Brian...exotic warm climate islands have more specimens in their backyard...your backyard. Nice shot.

I've lived here to long to think of it as exotic. I think we have so many beasties because we look after our yard and even leave a bit of wild at the edges.

[JBW]

Try under "Weird and Wonderful". It certainly is a fascinating creation of nature. Nice capture.

That it is.

[JBW]

Nicely captured.

another of our backyard beasties that let me get up close.

[JBW]

Hi Brian:

I'm no entomologist, but it looks suspiciously like a stick insect to me. Might be worth doing a search under that criterion.

I couldn't find a long necked folding antennae stick insect

[Tronhard]

Hi Brian

Do you have any other photos of the beast?

This individual could perhaps be a hybrid, or maybe a deformation?[

QUOTE=JBW;610425]I couldn't find a long necked folding antennae stick insect[/QUOTE]

[MrB]

What a weird and scary-looking insect. It appears to have a mouth-part developed for stabbing its prey. No idea what it is, but the powerful front legs give it the appearance of one of the mantids - the group containing preying mantis.

Cheers.
Philip

[JBW]

Hi Brian

Do you have any other photos of the beast?

This individual could perhaps be a hybrid, or maybe a deformation?[

QUOTE=JBW;610425]I couldn't find a long necked folding antennae stick insect

[/QUOTE]

I have shot this species on multiple occasions .

[JBW]

I have been creating an addiction. I have been trying different search parameters. I am confident that this is an Assassin Bug. not so sure exactly which one.

[Wavelength]

WOW!!! is that turning its head and looking at you?

[JBW]

WOW!!! is that turning its head and looking at you?

That was the pose he was in when I saw him. he didn't move while I moved around to take my shots. next day he was pretty much in the same pose. Seems they wait in ambush for their food.