Collecting experience in Arizona during October
(Part II)
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After settling in, I went to Arivaca by myself late afternoon while Lowell and Ken went to Madera Canyon. I arrived at 5:40pm and start to
look for ground mantis on a vacant lot of field right on the East side of the town. Using the sweep net, I caught the very first mantis and
it was an adult male of Litanuetria sp. The adult male has wing that only covers half of the abdomen. I immediately look for a container
in my plastic bag which I carried along. To my disappointment I realized that a bag of lids without container was all I brought all the way
from Green Valley to Arivaca…gah! While trying to look for a container of any kind in my rented car, the lone adult male flew away
bummer! I end up have to use my 500ml water bottle as temporary container. It was actually a bad idea as the container was humid,
too humid for desert species found in Arizona. After only 20 minutes of collecting. I was surprised at how early the sun set here at
Arivaca and I was fast losing sight and kind of collecting in blind! However, I was able to find a Yersiniops sp (likely Y. sophronica)
adult female and also two Litanuetria sp adult females in the short period of time.
On my way back to the hotel, there is a check station where border patrol would inspect all passing vehicle. This time the officers were
nice especially after seeing my butterfly net. They even told me plenty of praying mantids could be found around the check station at
night due to the bright mercury vapor lights. However, they deny me staying around the check station looking for bugs due to the
security and safety reason.
Due to the 2 hour time difference, I was getting tired after arriving at the hotel, but decided to walk around the hotel looking for some
insects that are attracted to light. Instead I found a velvet ant on the ground.
Walking from building to building, I found an adult Stagmomantis californica and Litanuetria sp. As expected both are adult male.
On the same night, both Lowell and Ken did a light trap at Madera canyon and found couple dozen of adult male Stagmomantis sp.
and some mantidflies, which I am glad they kept it for me.
Besides the mantis, I have also collected several beetle. Appear to be mesquite girdlers
The next morning All three of us had breakfast together at the restaurant next to the hotel. Lowell and Ken checked out from the hotel
but I continued to stay on for another day.
We went to Madera Canyon together in separate cars. I stopped half way to Madera Canyon while Lowell and Ken continued to the
place where they both set up the light trap because Ken lost his cell phone there last night. The weather was hot even though it was
only 10 AM in the morning. Grasses along the road side to Madera canyon is obviously greener and lusher than back in May.
The next morning All three of us had breakfast together at the restaurant next to the hotel. Lowell and Ken checked out from the hotel
but I continued to stay on for another day.
I started to check on some flower patches and soon spotted an adult female Stagmomantis. Upon further look, I was quite surprise
that it was a California mantis (Stagmomantis californica) as I have never seen one at Madera Canyon myself although I have heard
this species exists in Arizona.
TO BE CONTINUE.... (Part III)
