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This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Deer, Arkansas Reseda, California San Jose, California Itasca, Illinois Brockton, Massachusetts Detroit, Michigan Croton On Hudson, New York Greensboro, North Carolina Glouster, Ohio Liberty Hill, Texas
On Sep 19, 2006, Sarahskeeper from Brockton, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:
I've been blessed to have 6 of these in my gardens this season. I've observed them capture food and mature. I've even found discarded skins. They molt 6 or 7 times as they grow.
With a little luck I'll see them mating and find an egg sack or two, that would complete the cycle and please me to no end.
They are cannibals so when I found one in a dangerous location, I would place it safely distant from others. I noticed that the young ones prefer day lily beds. Older ones like late blooming plants like sedum, marigolds and dahlias. They just sit and wait for their next meal. Grasshoppers, bees, dragonflies almost anything except for stink bugs and large wasps.
Andy P
On Aug 17, 2008, palmbob from Tarzana, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
Does not look much like the other commonly seen mantids.. this one slim, with brown wings and extra long body. Egg sacks are globs, not the neat, orderlly things laid by most other mantids. Commonly sold at nurseries and on line.
On Aug 26, 2008, califguy12001 from San Jose, CA wrote:
I have had a wonderful experience with these creatures of nature. I live in an apartment with large trees and I have an upstairs balcony as well as a downstairs patio. I have numerous plants on both that include Angel Trumpets, morning Glories, climbing roses, honeysuckle and even some Plumeria that I brought back from Maui about 5 years ago that I bought at the airport in one of those plastic bags that is only 1 stick per bag. This year it is finally going to give me blossoms on all three branches. Anyway, I just wanted to set the stage for what is next. At my local nursery, I have purchased egg cases of these wonderful creatures and happily watch them hatch later in the Spring and the little guys go scammering around finding shelter, always fun to see them all over the place. For the past two years I have not purchased egg cases because I now have my very own little happy family all over the complex. I once seen one on the front door of one of my neighbors two buildings away ;-) Last week I found one setting in the Preying position on my upstairs deck, keeping an eye out for two flies just within reach. He grabbed one quickly and I was witness to the munching of a big ugly fly..... Love these creatures and have always found them fun to have around....keeps lots of bugs away and now I just need to fine something to get rid of the many small spiders I have...
Sorry for being long winded but I really do like having my Mantids around to watch.
Kevin
