This photograph features a female Ameles spallanzanii, a native mediterranean mantis species, encountered during a casual walk through the coastal town of Marzamemi in Sicily. While crossing a wooden walkway leading to a beachside café, surrounded by wild plants and trees, i spotted her perched in plain sight. It’s rarely seen in open areas, because of the size between 1-3 cm maximum and the different colors that are perfect for camouglage in their habitat. I gently moved her to a quieter spot, away from the crowd, and photographed her. Her posture was striking: raptorial legs folded, head tilted, and eyes locked onto the lens, as if she were intentionally posing.