Minor Ground Mantid

Camo Mantis Desert Bug
November 24, 2009
Greetings! I found this lovely little creature in the far western Sonora Desert in the cool of the evening in September. It looked rather like a mantis but moved very quickly across the ground. It was about 3/4 of an inch long. I was lucky to see him at all, I just happened to be looking right there. His camouflage was amazing! And like I said, he was very fast, which does not seem normal for a mantis. Ideas?
bludatta
western Arizona, Sonora Desert

Minor Ground Mantid

Dear bludatta,
We believe this is a Ground Mantid in the genus Litaneutria, most like Litaneutria minor which Charles Hogue calls the Minor Ground Mantid.  It is an active species that runs quickly.  BugGuide has additional images.

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