“A Hungry Stomach makes Short Prayer” Proverb Predators: Praying Mantis December 2020

Praying Mantis: named so for the positioning of their forelegs at rest. It would not be incorrect to refer to them as Preying Mantis as this is what they do: Prey on pests, but that is not their name.

In North America, there are twenty one Mantis species, I’m going to cover three, plus a bonus.

There are no native New York Praying mantis, but the Native- Carolina Mantis which used to go as far North as New Jersey is being reported around and about Southern New York. Whether they are surviving the winters or being imported with Southern Plant material still needs to be observed.

The Native: Carolina mantis: Stagomantis Carolina. Pale green or mottled grey. Adults are small: about 2”-2.5” Females are essentially flightless- wings are too small, Males wings extend beyond the abdomen- nocturnal fliers. There is a black patch on the outer pair of wings.

The facial shield: between eyes- is long and narrow. (On Chinese mantis it is squared and has vertical stripes).  Egg cases are Elongate, flattened, tear drop shaped.

The Praying Mantis: European Mantis: Mantis religiosa. Nonnative, the least encountered of the three. Yellowish green, cream colored or tan. 2”-3” Diagnostic feature: white bull’s eye dot on the underside of their basal joint of their forelegs- can be seen when they’re at rest: praying. Females and males are nocturnal fliers. Egg cases are egg shaped distinctly layered structures. Introduced to NA accidentally in 1899, then later imported on purpose to combat insect pests.

The “Enemy or Friend”: this depends on your opinion. Chinese mantis: Tenodera sinensis: Very common. Tan to Pale green, Large- 2.5”-4”, Facial shield is squared and has vertical stripes. Females and males are nocturnal fliers and attracted to lights at night. Egg cases resemble toasted marshmallows, round can be large, attached to bushes and small trees. Accidentally released in Mt Airy Pa, 1896, then like M. religiosa imported on purpose

The Chinese Mantis is still considered “Neutral” - it will eat a pest as well as a beneficial and yes the occasional small bird. My research finds the ornithology world sees this as something which is known worldwide, to move feeders or mantis. There are sensational videos of a Monarch or Bird being attacked by the larger females, but it is not the norm. They are also known to attack small reptiles and amphibians. PLUS: they are known and being observed attacking Spotted Lantern Fly and Murder Hornets so there it is: To them: Food is food- WE determine how we feel about their meal, our human perception.

Habitat: they frequent open, highly vegetated areas where an abundance of plants attract a wide variety of insects. Like assassin bugs, jumping spiders, robber flies they wait motionless for prey to draw near then grab them in a lightning fast mopve.

Food: Mantids eat a wide variety of walking insects: stinkbugs, houseflies, caterpillars or anything they can grab. They are “Ambush predators”. They like sunny open areas usually near flowers waiting for and insect to walk or fly nearby. They blend in with their surroundings, stalk slowly, grab quickly. Spines on their forelegs help them grasp the prey while consuming it.

Life: Most live about a year. They hatch in spring and spend their lives eating, molting and growing. At the end of the season the female- huge with eggs, deposits them on stems, twigs, bark, and other surfaces. The eggs overwinter and in Spring the young hatch almost all at once. They must disperse on hatching or become a meal for a sibling. As far as Mrs Mantis biting off Mr Mantis’ head, it has been recorded in captivity. A fast moving male can avoid that plight in nature with an option get out of the way. In nature, if caught, his sacrifice also insures a meal at the end of the season, both are mortal and she is enriched by it.

Ecosystem considerations: When we think of the plant- insect- animal chain, we don’t always consider the larger predatory insects which are a much bigger meal to insect-hunting vertebrate. Many birds hunt insects during breeding season because of their high protein content.

The young are very vulnerable to predation, first from a newly hatched sibling, then from clever predators such as Jumping Spiders who patrol near egg cases. 

Mantids can hear high frequency sounds emitted by bats and can alter their flight patterns. This is a sign bats may be a primary predator of nocturnal Praying mantis in flight.

 Bonus: The Orchid Praying Mantis: Hymenopus coronatus: Masters of Camouflage. Pink” or “Walking Flower” mantis are Beautiful insects: look them up. They mimic flowers and are kept as pets. The naturally inhabit open fields, in patches of green vegetation and “Become” flowers. The female can reach 4”, the male 2”. The female has creamy white plumage with brown patches. The males are pink and brown. The coloring draws insects looking for nectar and protects them from predators looking for in insect meal- Smart!

Kept as pets. They are native to Myanmar Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia as well as habitats in tropical rainforests. It is a carnivore: feeding on flies, bees, crickets, lizards, turtles, birds mice frogs beetles and fruit flies.

So these are the Mantis commonly seen in New York gardens. How you treat them or perceive them is still a personal decision. Horticulture, to me is % 50 knowledge and % 50 personal interactions or opinion. Someone once told me they saw Horticulturists as needing % 50 nurture and %50 brutality.

Such as it is with the Praying Mantis. “Friend or Foe” is up to you.