[orggrwr]

Was looking at buying Praying Mantis eggs for pest control in the garden and was sorry to see companies still selling Chinese Mantis egg cases in the US. The problem with the Chinese and European Mantis is they grow into 5 or 6 inch monsters. When they reach adult size their preferred prey is bees and butterfly's with many reports of them catching hummingbirds. Tare known to lay in wait on flowers to ambush any pollinators that land. They are voracious predators of the Monarch Butterfly which is in serious decline. Since I plant Milkweed for the Monarchs in my garden I definitely don't want a heavily armed assassin waiting to eat them.

 

[orggrwr]

Sorry hit the wrong button and posted too soon. As I was saying if you buy Mantis eggs buy the native Carolina Mantis eggs. They only get about 2 inches long so even as an adult they are small enough to crawl on my buds to snatch up those small catapillars that like to burrow into my buds. Unfortunately they get eaten by the invasive species also. So spread the word. Help the pollinators and if you buy Mantis eggs get Carolina Mantis eggs

 

[Galgrows]

Thanks for the heads up @orggrwr

 

[Phyto]

I am always very happy to see a mantis on my plants! Keeps moths, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars at bay!!

 

[amneziaHaze]

What do you hunt with mantis???? Indoor? Heck why not go for dragonfly if you need such big monsters.
Ladybugs not strong enough? Or nematoeds too small?