Praying Mantis
(Tenodera sinensis)
Mantids wait in quiet ambush for hours at a time. When an insect comes wandering by they jump out and attack, usually biting the neck first. They are strictly carnivorous and will eat almost any insect they can overcome. At rest, Mantids hold their spiny forearms together giving the appearance they are praying. In this posture they are capable of quickly striking prey and holding it in their powerful grip.
During fall, praying mantis females deposit an ootheca on the underside of a leaf or on a twig. If the egg case survives winter, the offspring, called nymphs, emerge in late spring or early summer. The nymphs have voracious appetites and typically cannibalize each other if they cannot find an adequate supply of aphids and other small insects.
Application: Eggs store in the refrigerator until ready for hatching, which takes 2-8 weeks of warm weather. Each egg hatches 100-200 mantids, which continue to grow throughout Summer and reach 3-5" long by Fall.UNAVAILABLE FOR 2024While the mantid cases are normally available from mid-December to July, our source was unable to collect them this year. We will continue to check back with them for the 2025 season.They should be used by Aug. 15 for a proper hatch.Preying Mantis make great garden pets, and constantly entertain while they eat insects all summer long. Egg case hatches 100-200 mantids.
