Praying mantis at Ocean Beach hillside garden in summer 2021.
While the native Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis Carolina) may be beneficial to help reduce unwanted pests in our gardens, some invasive species such as Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) may prey on the natives as well as pollinators – and even birds in rare cases.
The New London Beautification Committee has put together some articles to try to help you distinguishing between native and non-native mantids. . .
The Invasive Mantis Species
By: Jillian Pyle, Easement Steward
Brandywine Conservancy
Praying Mantis – Indiscriminate Predator
By Chris Neff
New Jersey Audubon
Praying or Preying?
By Natural Lands
Alien vs. Native Ootheca
By Southern Meadows Habitat Gardens