Praying Mantis
Terri_Stoklosa
17 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (26)
jenny_in_se_pa
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Praying mantis and bug prevention
Comments (11)Smiles, If you don't want to exclusively do organic that's fine, but BT is a great product and really works against most of the worms and definately cabbage worms. You can buy it in dust form just like a non-organic pesticide (it's sold as Dipel) or you can buy it in a spray form or concentrate (also sold as caterpillar killer by green light or safer, I can't remember,--there are other brands read the ingredients and look for bacillus thurengitis). Be sure not to apply it during the heat of the day cause the sun inactivates it but if you spray/dust it in the evening or on a cloudy day it will work great. BT shouldn't hurt mantises, it only works against caterpillars (which is what cabbage worms are). You don't say which pesticide you used so there isn't much people can say about the toxicity to mantisis....See MoreBeware the praying mantis!!
Comments (38)A friend of mine restored and maintains a prairie. Last night he did a presentation at a natural history meeting about Monarch butterflies, at which he showed a whole tray of recently dismembered butterfly wings due to Chinese mantis predation, mainly Monarchs. Monarchs have to migrate thousands of miles and along the way face numerous perils. With Monarchs and other butterflies in steep decline, my friend strongly feels import and sales of Chinese mantises should be banned. These mantises are not part of nature any more than your cat or dog. Chinese mantises are invasive non-native insects that not only kill butterflies, but also our smaller, less aggressive native mantises, and hummingbirds, too. There is no reason to spare Chinese mantises in your garden or yard. Hopefully one day sale and import of these aggressive predators will be banned. In the meantime, do our native butterflies and other creatures a favor and please exterminate any Chinese mantises you find....See MoreOkay, when will praying mantis egg cases be hatching??
Comments (1)Yes, they overwinter....See MoreQuestion on Praying Mantis Eggs?
Comments (10)Jean, the invasive Chinese mantids, now very common in the States, seem to be the usual culprit of the hummingbird murders. They are even responsible for the decline of our native mantis species. Upstate, the others have given you the reason for my dislike of mantids. If they would keep their crummy little claws off my butterflies, bees, wasps, assassin bugs, and ladybugs, I might stop evicting them. They are absolutely not welcome in my gardens....See Morehummersteve
17 years agoTeresa_MN
17 years agohummersteve
17 years agoTeresa_MN
17 years agoharryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
17 years agohummersteve
17 years agousaf_retired
17 years agojmc7104
17 years agopenny1947
17 years agoharryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
17 years agoChilidawg
17 years agobuford
17 years agogeorgia_mountain_lad
17 years agopenny1947
17 years agogeorgia_mountain_lad
17 years agobrenda_near_eno
17 years agonatures_nephew01
17 years agonora_grow
16 years agohummersteve
16 years agoyardenman
16 years agorembetika
16 years agobdriver71
16 years agoUser
16 years agoHU-85012154291
2 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden
Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES3 Ideas From the Evolving Garden
Life isn't predictable and neither is nature — and that's perfectly wonderful
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESThe Surprising Ingredients Every Good Garden Should Have
See what to do — and not do — for lasting rewards in your landscape
Full StoryCHRISTMASReal vs. Fake: How to Choose the Right Christmas Tree
Pitting flexibility and ease against cost and the environment can leave anyone flummoxed. This Christmas tree breakdown can help
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy
Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish
Full StoryLIFESimple Pleasures: 25 Ways to Make the Most of a Staycation
Give the daily grind the day off by hiding your work stuff, treating yourself and enjoying the outdoors
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGBid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good
Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTS8 Houseplants You Can't Kill
They're forgiving and let you forget. Houseplants don't get any easier than this
Full StoryMOST POPULAR16 Ways to Get More From Your Small Backyard
Make a tight or awkward yard a real destination with these design tricks from the pros
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Conoclinium Coelestinum
Blue mistflower is a critical late-season native for pollinators that blooms for weeks
Full StorySponsored
More Discussions
marthaye