@beryl they can move fast, and they are pretty big, this one is not fully grown but would have been about 8 inches long. I have so many memories of being fascinated with them as a child and catching them and just observing them walk up and down an arm or leg. Apparently we have like 160 different species of them here - I really like the face on this one :)
@koalagardens Thanks - the thought of them giving a sudden spurt - freaks me a little -like the effect of the quick and sudden movement of spiders have on me !
What a gorgeous insect, can't help but love them. How do you like your EM10markII? I have the original which I don't get on with very well, prefer Panasonic but I DO like the live composite/time functions which I hope to use later this year. If the gods of plans of old ladies don't desert us, my friend & I are going Milky Way hunting. The EM1 mark 3 has a special setting but it's way out of my pocket range.
Wow. I had a big lady like this on my verandah this morning. At one stage she had her long forearms stretched straight out in front of her like pointers. Amazing creatures indeed.
@jesika2 thanks they really are stunning :) I love my olympus - only got it last year and I had the macro lens on for this shot. there are limitations to it, well to the lenses I own, so I use it for some shots and the canon for others.
@beryl they tend to show a certain amount of executive function, but that may be a trick of their physical characteristics - like the way she is looking at me and can turn her head on a neck. I found her, then raced inside, got the camera, changed lens and came and sat quietly beside her and had to fiddle around a bit to get the camera in the right spot and focused how I wanted with the macro lens. All that time she moved position of the front legs a couple of times, rocked a little a couple of times, but otherwise just sat still.
They can fly short distances, males can fly quite well.
They will bite if really provoked, but I think most aussie kids grew up playing with them and they are usually quite gentle. And yet they are meat eating predators, but not venomous.
@louannwarren yeah we have tiny green ones, medium green ones, ones that have surprising markings and bits of colour - all shapes and sizes, apparently 160 different species here :)
He’s posing for you! I always love photographing these in the summer. I think they heads are so interesting and they usually give a fun expression. Great capture.
@gardencat I know right! I was so sure I would emerge from the house and she would be gone, but it was my lucky day :) I came back a bit later and she was nowhere to be seen, so it was pure luck!
They can fly short distances, males can fly quite well.
They will bite if really provoked, but I think most aussie kids grew up playing with them and they are usually quite gentle. And yet they are meat eating predators, but not venomous.