Praying Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
This preying mantis was photographed using a Nikon CoolPix 990 on 12 Oct. 2002 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mantidae -- Praying Mantis Family
There are quite a number of praying mantis species in the Sonoran Desert; the most common large green species belong to Stagmomantis libata. But, there are several introduced species. commonly encountered near urban centers where they are intentionally released. The introduced species are the Mediterranean Mantis (Iris orataria) and the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa).
This ootheca is placed on a twig of a Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina) in the Vekol Valley, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 29 March 2015. It contains dozens of eggs embedded in very tough, protective material that was produced by the female as the eggs were being laid.