Beauty & the Beast

Had coffee this morning sitting outside when this monarch butterfly fluttered by and plonked itself right where I had hoped it might be a few days ago.   Lucky me!  

Later in the afternoon I chanced a view of a mantis, though something was a bit odd.  A closer look revealed the somewhat gruesome scene in extras.  The fly was still alive whilst the mantis ate and gruesome though it was, we know that nature is tough.  A fascinating glimpse into a distasteful event to humans but a necessary event for Mother Nature.