Latin name: Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

Seen on CityLine June, 2010

2010 Season Praying Mantis Egg Cases are Sold Out


Praying Mantis are general predators that feed on aphids, beetles, caterpillars, chinch bugs, Colorado potato beetles, leafhoppers, hornworms, leafrollers, squash bugs, thrips and whiteflies. They feed on what they can catch! They start off feeding on fruit flies and other tiny insects and as they grow so does their prey as a full grown adult grasshoppers are eaten. Adults are large (up to 10cm/4in.) green or brownish in color with papery wings.


Praying mantis are sent to you as an egg case. Egg cases will not hatch until about mid June when the weather is hot enough and the daylight hours are longer. All will hatch within about 1 hour - they will quickly disperse as they are very cannibalistic and the egg case remains unchanged. Each mantis will set up its own territory where it will live for the summer. They are very difficult to find in the garden because they are well camouflaged. Later in the summer they will fly to find a mate this is often when they are seen. Also as the weather cools they will sit out in the sun to warm themselves.


To witness an egg case hatching, hatch it inside and then release your mantis into your garden.


SHIPPED: As an egg case that may contain 50-400 eggs. Egg cases can take 2 to 8 weeks to start hatching, though once an egg case starts hatching it takes only about 1 to 2 hours.

RELEASE RATE: 3 egg cases cover 450 m. sq. (5000 ft. sq.) and 10 to 100 egg cases per 1/2 ha.(1 ac.).

SPECIAL NOTES: Spring is the time to place a Praying Mantis egg case in your garden to hatch and help control pest insects. This allows enough time in the summer for the Praying Mantis to breed and lay another egg case for next season. Egg cases are available up until mid July. They need to hatch in July to mature enough to mate and lay an egg case for the following season.

Note: BENEFICIAL INSECTS - must be ordered by Thursday for shipping the following Tuesday
(Exceptions : Ladybugs and Praying Mantis - usually stock Items check product for availability)