In my series 'Phil & Lil' I was really able to show others the individual personalities of my own pet spiny leaf insects Phillip and Lily. The way they love to eat and their daily drink of dew drops sprayed onto the leaves.

 

In the case of Lily I was very lucky to have her after a disastrous final malt left her near death on the floor of her enclosure with crooked antennae, crumpled features and no energy to eat or drink. However, with an incredible will to live on her part and a herb miller and rose leaves on mine, she pulled through and became a great joy in my life. After a time of rest, recuperation and a lot of rose and gum leaves she regained her energy and Phillip mated with her. This was considered a miracle by all accounts as she had tried to eat him on his first attempt, mistaking him for a delicious leaf hanging about her just waiting to be eaten.

It was only when I was able to take macro shots of the beautiful mini beasts was I able to truly see all of their forms and features, most of which I never would have known about with the naked eye. I found myself discovering something truly amazing about them with every shot.

I leaned a lot from these tiny creatures and found their perseverance and strong wills as a constant inspiration to me. To some they may just be little insects slowly going about their day with simple instincts telling them to eat, drink or sleep but to me they were little beings with extraordinary personalities and I am grateful that of all the beings that I was able to meet in my life, that they were two of them.