Are they here?

[yen_saw]

Hey Yen, That was what I thought but I found my Stagmomantis Limbata in my back yard here in Los Angeles County

Lucky you!

It is fun collecting praying mantis in the wild, the excitement and thrill of spotting one is great! It is kind of complete the hobby besides keeping and raising them at home.

I've never had much trouble finding mantids in a weedy meadow/field.

It is easier for you Rick cos you know where to find them.

 

[Jodokohajjio]

I've also heard of flower shops getting mandids and other exotic animals in by mistake. Apparently many of the flowers that are imported are shipped in refrigerated trucks and the like, so a mantis's metabolism could potentially slow down enough to survive a long trip. I haven't had any luck myself, but it might not hurt to make an occasional call to a local flower shop.