Do you have a favorite insect? This is such a strange question that most folks would not have an immediate answer and would have to stop and think a bit before responding. The quickest responses would undoubtedly come from those who simply do not like insects at all. The most common positive answer, I suspect, might well be a Monarch Butterfly.
Many readers know that I see lots of beautiful dragonflies and butterflies, but my favorite insect is almost certainly the Handsome Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum pulchellum), like this one that I photographed on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I remember my sense of awe and amazement the first time that I spotted one—I couldn’t believe my own eyes, because the combination of colors seemed so bright and almost unreal. When I initially posted a photo of the Handsome Meadow Katydid, one of my friends thought that I had added the colors in Photoshop.
To this day, I never fail to marvel at a Handsome Meadow Katydid’s spectacular rainbow colors and incredible blue eyes and am always thrilled to discover again their amazing beauty when I am fortunate enough to find one.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Exquisite photo, Mike, and an aptly named katydid. I have never seen one, but it is easy to see your reason for awe. Such bright and vivid colors, intense eyes, and really long antennae. Perhaps now that I know one, I will see it, I hope so. There are so many lovely insects, hard to name a favorite, but I think it would be a walkingstick.
The katydid is a very bonnie insect, I agree. My favourite insect is a dor beetle. I love the smooth black carapace and that underbelly that’s somewhere between a black opal and petrol spilled in a puddle. They’ve a pleasingly podgy shape too.
voww..wonderful it is
Hey Mike. I think my least favourite insect would have to be the mosquitoes we get here in Auckland over summer…as for favourite, I adore taking photos of Praying Mantis…I find them truly fascinating…no other insect will stare down the barrel of a lens…”you photographing me?” 😄
I think I would agree with you, Graham, about the mosquitoes, though we also have some chiggers that are real pains and have long-lasting bites. I too love praying mantises, though, alas, I rarely see them.
It feels like a little blessing when a mantis pops into the house I think. I once woke up to find one hanging upside-down above the bed which was a bit weird. On another occasion I got one in a cap to put outside and just sat watching it clean itself for ages…it was free to go but just happily sat there. Fab. 🙂