“I don’t mean to interrupt, madam, but do you think that’s entirely wise? 😳”

A female great green bush cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) laying her eggs in a crack between two paving slabs on a busy cycle path outside Zoetermeer.

I hope she survived the traffic at least – she was sitting there almost motionless for many minutes🤞

As seen during this evening’s sunny but breezy 55km ride 💨🌞

#Netherlands 🇳🇱
#Photography 📷
#Entomology 🦗
#CyclingLife 🚴‍♂️

And here’s a fuzzier shot of the lady from the front, her long ovipositor seen down in the crack.

Somehow it feels a bit voyeuristic to be posting these pictures 🫢 but it’s all in the name of science, I say.

@markmccaughrean
Amazing picture