Connecticut's state insect
 

...Is the European or Praying Mantis. Here's one I captured this past October on a warmish day. I found him on a poke plant. The bright red stem was not doing it for me, so I moved him (her?) to a dried Queen Anne's Lace. I think it was trying to clean the human off his foot.</p>
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<p>It's a little noisy due to the fact that I needed to stop down for DoF and needed to keep shutter speed up to combat a windy day. Anyhow, I liked this shot.</p>
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<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4175409370_aeb9a60e78_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7777483@N07/4175409370/meta/" target="_blank">EXIF</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7777483@N07/4175409370/sizes/o/" target="_blank">Full Size. I recommend it.</a></p>
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