Preferred food: Most pest insects, mites and insect eggs. Mantids eat various aphids, leafhoppers, mosquitoes, caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects when young. As adults they will eat larger insects, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and other pest insects.

Method of shipment and release: Shipped in their egg cases, each contains about 200 baby mantids. Optimal conditions for hatching are 40-95% humidity and a temperature of 70-90° F.

Release rate: Place 3 cases/5,000 sq. ft. or 10-100 cases/acre. Attach the cases on twigs, leaves, fences, or the crotch of a bush or tree. Do not place on the ground as they are easy prey for ants. Mantids can also be hatched inside a paper bag kept in a warm place. After they hatch, they need to be released before they eat each other!!

Begin releases during early spring. Praying Mantids can be used in conjunction with other beneficial insects, however, beware: Praying Mantids will eat other beneficials if pests are not available. They will not eat ladybugs because they are bigger than most other beneficial insects.

Availability: February through June. Call for availability during off-season.

Helpful Tip: To encourage mantid populations, limit broad-spectrum pesticide use and allow some vegetation to grow to provide cover for the mantids. Selective insecticides, such as those containing Bacillus thuringiensis (for caterpillar control) and insecticidal soap (to control soft-bodied insect pests) have little impact on mantids as compared to broad-spectrum insecticides.

Mantids make a fantastic science or classroom project! They're fascinating to watch and kids love them!

Contains 3 Praying Mantid Cases - See other quantities below.