Unlike most mantids in the area, Perlamantis allibertii is a typically nocturnal species which is best found at lights and thus requires a specific sampling protocol. Our several new records suggest it may be much more widespread and present than initially thought over Mediterranean-type habitats whenever their structure has been preserved. Altogether we extended the known distribution to the Algarve, 150 km to the south and to the west, around 30 km. However, some of the sites where it has been recorded are suffering pressures from urban or touristic infrastructures, especially in the Algarve. The case of the site in Algoz (Silves) is especially dramatic because this harbours an interesting endemic mediterranean vegetation community on a clay, acidic soil where one of the last remnant populations of the endangered quasi-endemic plant, Plantago algarbiensis, an European imperiled taxon considered Endangered by IUCN (Bilz 2011). This site is under serious threat because of its small dimensions and lies near the village of Algoz, is used to dump garbage and is right next to a quarry.

Besides being a new country record, the three Portuguese records of Sphodromantis viridis extend the distribution area of this species considerably to the west although precise reference data is scant. Nevertheless, Sevilla in Spain, not too far from the border is among the first known areas of the species back in the 19th century (Bolivar 1876). The fact that S. viridis was only now recorded in Portugal despite being the largest mantid in Europe may probably be explained by one or the synergy between some factors: 1) the inland area of southern Portugal is on overall very poorly prospected and only recently the situation has changed slightly. Biodiversity assessments are underway but still do not fulfill the knowledge-gap; 2) possible confusion with the widespread and common Praying mantis, Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) although upon close inspection, the presence of a white spot in the middle of the forewing and the absence of a yellow-centred dark spot in the fore-coxa give away for S. viridis and 3) a possible on-going range expansion of this species from its core areas in Andalucia following climate and habitat conditions becoming more suitable in latest years. The relative contribution of each of these aspects can only be positively ascertained through careful examination of specimens collected in the past, among putative Mantis religiosa from the region, and newer records as well.

The case of Apteromantis aptera may beslightly different. It is a distinctive wingless species (which immediately differentiates it from the often sympatric species in the genus Ameles) with pointed eyes and becomes well camouflaged in its natural habitats. Only reason 1 applies here because it is probably a poorly dispersive species very tied to its particular habitats, mostly semi-natural grassland and heliophilous scrubland. However, it is a species upon which there is an official concern and protection and most emerging records get to be published very soon after (Boieiro et al. 2007, Cano-Villegas and Zafra 2007, Grosso-Silva and Soares-Vieira 2004, Obregón and López 2009, Pascual Torres 2005, Pascual Torres 2011). We have found this species in some particularly rich areas concerning biodiversity. For instance, one record coming from the eastern foothills of Serra de Ficalho (Moura), a Natura 2000 priority site where its geology sets it apart from most other mountain ranges in southern Portugal. This area, although poorly surveyed harbours one of the few Portuguese populations of the Portuguese Dappled-white butterfly, Euchloe tagis (Hubner, 1804) (Marabuto 2008) and many orchid species. The second site near São Brissos (Beja) in spite of being small with less than 4 km² is also of extreme importance. It is an abandoned semi-natural cork-oak woodland over a metamorphic carbonated rock patch very rich in Orchidaceae species (12 species so far), some of which are very rare in Portugal. Within this site there are many now abandoned marble quarries which provide refuges for fauna and flora and besides being next to the new São Brissos Airport, the area has been close to being completely leveled recently and if it would happen, most of these species would become locally extinct. The nearby site where A. aptera was found, near Beringel (Beja) is even smaller and equally of paramount importance for conservation. It is an abandoned traditional olive grove managed by Portuguese NGO QUERCUS-ANCN with a developed understorey harbouring the densest populations in Portugal of Echium boissieri (Boraginaceae). Furthermorem this is the type locality of the rare cicada Euryphara contentei Boulard, 1982, being the only area in Portugal where this species can be found (Sueur et al. 2004). Other sites include the important bird areas of Castro Verde and Caia, where relevant populations of great bustard (Otis tarda) and Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanii) have their stongholds in the country.

Taxonomic impediment as the generalised decrease of importance given to taxonomic aspects within biodiversity studies may be preventing many informed assessments and publishing of data (for instance, the recent find of a "Portuguese endemic" not easily identified cicada, Tettigetalna mariae Quartau & Boulard, 1995 in southern Spain is one such example (Simões et al. 2013)). The one thing in common these three mantis species share is the lack of knowledge regarding their biology and occurrence in Portugal and many of the problems associated with insect inventory and understanding of bionomics are expressed here. There is one large species likely to be able to disperse (and may be doing so with the help of climate amelioration) and moderately easy to detect; a potentially vagile species whose ecology (nocturnal) makes it difficult to be found in many biodiversity assessments and a third species that albeit legally protected and sought after is small, secretive, camouflages well among grasses and shrubs and is unlikely to undertake long distance dispersal.

While some records come from Sites of Community Importance (SCI) under the Natura 2000 framework which are subject to special management policies, several others do not. However, most come from biodiversity-rich places with no official or subject to little action in the field concerning conservation and even under immediate threat of local extinction. We hope our findings may help changing this situation and elevate the conservation profile of these species and their habitats.