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.

Hi again, Thanks for the follow ups... First, I had no idea that the mantis were wild harvested, and like you, think this is not acceptable. I guess I imagined a mantis farm where they breed thousands...but, no, not if they go and take them from their habitat. However your comment "Mantids not as much because the ones people are buying are not native usually to begin with. " does that imply there are mantis farms? I can certainly research it on the web also, just thought if you knew. Second, the suggestion for nematodes for specific climate...again...wow, had not thought of that either...and don't know if the nematode place would have brought that up. Third, no, will not spray permectrin again...it was a last ditch attempt... And we too have seen the frontline will sometimes work on ticks, sometimes not, same with fleas. Depends on the year and who has resistance...last year we switched to Advantage for awhile and that seemed to work, but we are reading some things that give us cause for pause...most all the products caution against using on elderly or otherwise compromised animals, and that is what we have a preponderance of. We don't have "grass" to speak of, being on the side of a mountain in the middle of the woods...one year we spread sulfur around the immediate areas and it drove the ticks off...this winter has been very mild so the ticks should be in abundance. Do any of you know if the sulfur would hurt the nematodes? Also, diatameous earth? We plan to start spraying early, as soon as we are sure the last freeze is over. We are expecting that to come early...will spay liberally and every 2 months we are thinking...a trial and error sort of thing. Thanks for the many helpful suggestions... and the link that I will research tonight. Will keep everyone posted... thanks again, palulukon

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.

Your concern for your hummingbirds is understandable! Based on your description, it sounds like you're dealing with a native species of praying mantis in Pennsylvania. The absence of wings in your photo indicates that it's likely a young mantis, as you mentioned. To be certain about the species and potential threat to your hummingbirds, you might want to reach out to local entomologists or wildlife experts. They can provide accurate identification and advice on how to manage the situation without harming the mantis, which is beneficial for natural pest control.