Stagmomantis Californica up close.
November 8, 2009
Hey WTB! I thought you might enjoy a couple pictures of this Mantid (which I’m quite sure is a Stagmomantis Californica, please correct me if I’m wrong) perched on a creosote branch.
Michael G.
Southern California, Coachella Valley.
Hi Michael,
Your photos are great. We aren’t certain that this is a Stagomantis. Perhaps one of our readers can supply a definitive identification.
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination
Looks to me like a sub-adult male iris oratoria(mediterranean mantis) The orange dot on the underside of the abdomin is a definitive mark for this species. This species was introduced to california in the 1930s.