Nature never stops surprising us. From beautiful gardens to towering trees and amazing animals, it always has something to show. But, it’s rare to find small creatures that are both beautiful and fascinating. Today, we’re talking about one bug in particular—and it’s pretty special.
Margaret Neville, who lives on a farm in South Africa, loves walking around and enjoying the natural world. One day, while passing her lavender bush, something unusual caught her eye. It was an insect—but not just any bug. This one was beautiful. At first, she couldn’t believe it was real!
“I was shocked at first sight,” she said.
“When I saw it, I thought it was a work of art,” said Kerri Martinaglia, Margaret’s friend.
The insect’s body looked like glass. Its green wings had a beautiful swirl, but what stood out most were the pink bumps on its legs and body. They looked like tiny pink flower buds.
Margaret found out it was a floral mantis, a type of mantis that blends in with flowers. The beauty of it was unexpected. She admired it so much that she gave the insect a name: Miss Frilly.
“She spent the whole month of September in my lavender,” Margaret shared. “And she’s still here.”
Recently, Miss Frilly found a male companion, and Margaret hopes this little beauty will bring even more wonder to the world.
