Ground-mantis
Guides
Iris
mantis
Iris is a genus of praying mantises in the family Eremiaphilidae. These mantises are part of the diverse mantodean radiation that includes many specialized desert-dwelling species. The genus is classified within the subfamily Iridinae and tribe Iridini, reflecting its phylogenetic placement among the "ground mantises" adapted to arid environments.
Litaneutria obscura
obscure ground mantis
Litaneutria obscura is a small ground-dwelling mantid native to the desert southwest of North America. Unlike most mantids that employ ambush predation from vegetation, this species is cursorial, actively running down prey on the ground. It is one of two Litaneutria species in the United States, with a more restricted range than its congener L. minor. The species is currently treated as a synonym of L. ocularis by some taxonomic authorities.
Litaneutria ocularis
Obscure Ground Mantis
Litaneutria ocularis is a small ground-dwelling mantis species found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Unlike most mantids that employ ambush predation from vegetation, this species has adopted a cursorial strategy, actively running down prey on the ground. It belongs to a small group of ground mantids in the genera Litaneutria and Yersiniops that have evolved this active hunting behavior in response to open grassland and desert habitats.
Litaneutria skinneri
Skinner's Ground Mantis
Litaneutria skinneri is a small ground-dwelling mantid native to the southwestern United States. Unlike most mantids that employ ambush predation from vegetation, this species is cursorial, actively pursuing prey across open ground. It inhabits arid and semi-arid environments including desert and grassland ecosystems. The species was described by Rehn in 1907 and remains relatively poorly studied compared to its congener L. minor.
Yersiniops sophronicus
Yersin's ground mantis
Yersiniops sophronicus, commonly known as Yersin's ground mantis, is a small ground-dwelling mantid native to North America. Unlike typical ambush mantids that perch on vegetation, this species has adopted a cursorial hunting strategy, actively running down prey in open habitats. It belongs to a small group of ground mantids in the genera Yersiniops and Litaneutria that are specialized for life in arid and semi-arid environments. The species is distinguished from its congener Litaneutria by pointed upper eye margins that create a 'horned' facial appearance.