theyre not rare u just need to know where to look. look in the underbrush or goldenrod and walk in tall fields if you see something jump inspect the area very closly.one time i was looking at a catterpiller and my friend pionted out that it was under my thumb!
i have 3 or 4 male chinese mantids (brown with green stripe) and i found a female all green mantis, so i put one of the males with her and they mated. will she lay an ooth?