The male is a Stagmomantis limbata not a Stagmomantis californica from the green stripe on the side of his forewing which S. californica do not have. The females wing gets kind of wide at the end so I think she is S. limbata also. I wish they were the uncommon S. californica.
Im sure you are right ! The female is colourful in certain lights w/ purplish- blue like bands along with black and brownish Camouflage that i assumed it was a Californica ...i guess each species has several looks? I bought a pair of juvenile Chinese Mantids and they were all beige - brown .. Although the female my wife released has grown much lighter, almost a buckskin to match the under side of the leaves in the garden I'm guessing. will a Limbata mate with a Californica ? Or similar species cross breed? Because the two males looked completely different to my novice eyes Thnx for the input! jp
Well i would but the male got eaten by a big green female either limbada or californica and the female i haven't seen in the garden for a while..when I've looked at the different green females and the brownish Mottled one with colorful bands i haven't seen any blue on upper lips..want to say some red? Ill post some pics from camera when i get a chance..and if i see the female Chinese ill try to snap a pic,cheersjp
i will do if i can get close enough! it seems there is a little conflicting info out there on the 'ol WWW as far as identifying the species for the novice ! thank you for the tips!
