Preying Mantis Care: The Benefits of Keeping These Helpful Insects in Your Garden

As gardeners, we are always looking for ways to maintain the health and well-being of our plants without relying on harsh chemicals or pesticides. One way to achieve this is by introducing beneficial insects into your garden ecosystem. Among these helpful insects, praying mantises have gained popularity due to their impressive ability to feed upon invasive insect pests that can cause significant damage to crops.

Chinese mantises, in particular, have been shown to prey on the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), which is a highly destructive pest that can cause millions of dollars' worth of damage to agricultural crops every year. Additionally, they have also been known to feed on the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect pest that has recently been introduced to North America.

So, why should you consider keeping praying mantises in your garden? For starters, these natural predators feed on a wide variety of insects and small creatures, including moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, true bugs, and beetles. By introducing them into your garden ecosystem, you can significantly reduce the population of these pests, which can help to prevent damage to your plants and add biodiversity to your space.

Praying mantises are also beneficial because they are known for their impressive hunting skills. They have been observed catching and killing prey that is much larger than themselves, making them a valuable asset in any garden. Moreover, after feeding, praying mantises will often groom themselves, cleaning off any remaining bits of food from their bodies.

In conclusion, keeping praying mantises in your garden can be a great way to maintain the health and well-being of your plants while also promoting biodiversity and reducing pest populations. With their impressive hunting skills and ability to feed on a wide variety of insects, these helpful insects are definitely worth considering for any gardener looking to adopt more natural and sustainable gardening practices.

Preying mantis care