Insect or Invertebrates Identification

[Richprins]

Tiny mantid, 2cm.

Marloth winter:

[nan]

phasme - stick insect
but which one... that is the question

[ExFmem]

nan
When this was pictured in Can You See the Animal, I also thought stick insect at first glance. However, in the close-up you can see the raptorial forelegs, which I think makes it a Mantid. The lack of wings is also confusing for we non-scientists/entomologists. I did look it up and found this: Mantid nymphs look like small versions of the adults. The wings only appear at the final moult. Most adults have wings, but there are some species that do not.

It reminds me of one of mine in the AW Mantid book, superficially, (viewtopic.php?p=530285#p530285) but there are so many species and the distinguishing characteristics can be daunting to sort thru.

One more for our intrepid identifier, Klippies.

[nan]

ExFmem, thank you for these explanations, will have a look at the thread you mention

[Richprins]

Interesting, ladies!

[Lisbeth]

In order to make everybody happy I vote for a "stick mantis": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick_mantis

[Klipspringer]

Could be a youngster from the family Eremiaphilidae.

[Richprins]

Did seem to be a nymph!

[Richprins]

Medium caterpillar, 5cm, Marloth winter:

[Klipspringer]

Lasiocampidae.

I think these reddish ridges on the thorax can be erected and contain irritating hairs.