Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, the praying mantis, is not an effective biocontrol agent but they are neat predators that can serve other purposes. Use them for such. The content on this page is presented in a manner inconsistent with most of the other data pages on this site. This is because the organism and its role also resides outside the norm. On this page you will find a general info, usages, and other good stuff such as ordering.
General Information
Praying mantids. Some say they’re valuable “general” predators. Well, they’re certainly not picky about what they eat (and they do eat ladybugs, contrary to popular thought). But as far as valuable, as commercial biocontrol agents, anyway, they are not. Praying mantises are too territorial and cannibalistic. Hunt and eat? Yes. Protect your crops from aphids, whiteflies and mites, as I’ve read in several catalogs? No way!
Then why, you may ask, do bug purveyors sell them? Some will tell you anything you wish to hear to make them seem the ideal choice and that’s not right. It must be strictly a money thing. I don’t mean the mantids are worthless… they’re not. The answer can be summed up in two words: They’re awesome! But for what they are, not for what they’re not.
The mantises are supplied as egg-cases, one egg-case per hatching bag. The yield of an egg-case is normally between 50-400 baby mantids, each about three-quarters of an inch long. They’re available from January to June but, for best results, try to get them just before the last frost in your area. [Intro]
Usages
Uses for these awesome-but-not-so-good-biocontrol-agent insects include their showiness. Like ladybugs, people know what they are. They can be symbolic of biocontrol and IPM. Present in a garden center’s greenhouse, mantids can help tell your customers about the Green Methods you’re using. In a garden center’s greenhouse they can also draw the attention of young people, distracting them as their parents select plant materials (sort of a biological kid control agent).
Mantises are territorial stalkers of insects — good and bad. They’ll spend days tracking and waiting for a fly. The fly finally gets close enough and the mantid’s serrated forelegs strike out at 1/20th of a second, capturing it. The mantis delivers a bite to the neck, killing the fly, then savors it’s meal. That’s how they work, that’s why they’re cool. And that is what they should be sold for. A novelty, an educational tool, a pet, a garden sentry, mantids are all these things, but they not a cure-all for what may be ailing your plants. [Intro]
Rates, Instructions, and Purchase
Need more information? Check out our release rates or our short-term storage, handling, and release instructions. You may also purchase mantises. [Intro]
