This sub-adult Bordered Mantis is one of our native praying mantises.
The majority of praying mantises found in gardens around the Los Angeles area are not native to the US. This is because nurseries and garden centers sell mostly oriental mantis egg-cases for organic insect control. And frankly. introducing non-native praying mantises is not the best solution for insect control because they catch anything that moves, including beneficial insects. So even when it comes to insects – we try to encourage “using” natives!!
Bordered Mantis – Stagmomantis limbata ♀