This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the KU Center for East Asian Studies and the Kansas African Studies Center.

Whoever says there’s nothing new under the sun has clearly never been to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Late last spring, entomologists on a research trip found a brand new species of praying mantis. The Bush tiger mantis got its name from the female’s hunting style. Being wingless, she stalks her prey through the brush at ground level, like a tiger. The male has wings and does fly but he doesn’t hunt so that’s all the time we’re going to spend on him. The scientists behind the expedition believe that the Bush tiger mantis can only be found here, which just happens to be the largest protected mountain rainforest in Africa. Nyungwe National Park is home to thousands of species, hundreds of them insects. Who knows how many are as yet undiscovered? It’s quite possible they’ll never get all the bugs out!

With thanks to Mackenzie Jones for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.