Arizona Unicorn Mantis

[James H]

I was looking on Swift's Invertebrates and saw an Arizona Unicorn Mantis (Pseudovates arizonae). I was wondering if anyone from Arizona has found them and could pass along the general location. I would be very interested in collecting a couple and trying to produce some. I have found two species of mantid but nothing like those.

 

[Wade]

I was at an invertebrate conference in the Tucscon area a few years back, and a few other attendees (not me ) had been fortunate enough to collect some. I don't know the exact locale.

Wade

 

[Jesse607]

P. arizonae are very cool mantids, I wish you luck finding some( I believe you probably will not find any adults this time of year, just oothecae or small nymphs). We could always use some more "bloodlines". You also have Stagmomantis limbata in Arizona, they "overwinter" as oothecae, but in areas of abundance you should be able to find several oothecae on plant stems and (mesquite?)tree branches in desert/grassland/"brush" areas of lower elevation. Good luck mantid hunting and let us know when you succeed.

 

[fcallaghan]

Searching For A Mantis No One Has Ever Seen

This is the first time I've ever actually gone on line to look for what I believe
was some type of mantis years ago. So far all the people I know personally
look at me as though I'm crazy.

If anyone can tell me what I saw, I'd appreciate it!

An insect that stood at least 8-9 inches high very long spindly dainty legs
wings that looked exactly like leaves it was a very light green in color, it
was beautiful, no I don't think it was a dragon fly because as soon as I saw
it I thought My God, thats a mantis.

It was summertime in Illinois, no I wasn't in a park or forest, It was in the
parking lot of a Jewel Food Store and was standing behind my vehicle.
The only reason I did not pick it up was that I wasn't sure if it would sting
or bite!!!

So I talked to it for 3 minutes trying to get it to go so I wouldn't run over
it when I backed out in my vehicle. To say I was getting strange looks from
people going to their cars would be accurate. It never moved the whole
time I stood there. I got in my car, revved the engine a few times hoping
I'd entice it to move, and backed out slowly, stopped the car, looked for
it and it was gone.

Wish I'd at least had a camera.
No, I wasn't high and was not having a flashback.
If you or anyone knows what I saw, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Francine
Illinois

 

[Stylopidae]

Chinese mantis...they're quite common around here.

 

[RVS]

From what I understand, Pseudovates arizonae is a very rare mantid both in the hobby and in the wild.