I had seen this little mantis when I was still living in San Diego last summer and my chameleons were outside. He took up residence on my chameleon cages jumping from cage to cage. With the dripper and constant supply of rogue insect, this little guy was set! Turns out its known as an Obscure Ground Mantis.
I saw him a few times that summer. First time I saw him, I mistook him for a moth. I made a half-hearted attempt to catch him, just to study him for a little bit (I've found sun spiders, garden slender salamanders [Batrachoseps major], and alligator lizards back there), but he was very quick and agile. Didn't want to bother him too much, so I just left him alone.
Your link you provided helped me identify him, so thanks.
ground mantis link
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com
) I had told my prof that there were certain insects I wouldn't collect/kill. Among them was dragonflies. .While sweeping a pond I ended up with df larva and when I realized - it was too late. So to relieve my guilty conscience (LOL!) I decided I needed to i.d. it. Well, I did (via the web) right down to 2 possible species! I think it was that experience on the web that helped my interest in i.d. specimens (live and dead).
