Here are a couple photos of insects here in NZ which I don't recall seeing outside a zoo in the US.
This preying mantis was laying eggs on the side of the house. I'm looking forward to seeing the eggs hatch. How long do they incubate? I found an insect book at a shop today identifying a New Zealand and a South African variety of preying mantis. Based on the egg sac photo, I'd say we are looking at the So African mantis. I have seen them hanging out on my basil plant in the garden. Go, mantis!
The next photo is two walking sticks doing the nasty on our door frame. Oh yeah, insect porn! I know the mantis is likely to eat her mate after copulation, but not sure about the sticks. They both disappeared after awhile.
Darin and I just returned from 3 lovely days in the Bay of Islands area. I'm too tired to blog about it now, so you'll have to check back later this week for the update. 
