Spy vs Spy
A Chinese mantis (Tenodora sinensis) spies on the photographer through a snow fence on the perimeter of a field experiment investigating aboveground burial of swine mortalities. Aboveground burial is a livestock mortality management strategy that is an intermediary process between pit burial and composting. In this trial, aboveground burial stimulated a lot of insect activity, particularly by fly larvae and beetles. Could this visitor to the site have been tucking in for a meal?