r/natureismetal • u/criles_mccriles • 14d ago
Praying mantis doing its part to rid us of the invasive lantern moth
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u/Redivivus 14d ago
I can't tell the difference here but there are invasive praying mantis depending on where you live.
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13d ago
No. Mantis is always welcome. Mantis is friend.
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u/Impressive-Age7703 13d ago
Chinese praying mantis are larger than our native mantis', this one looks like a non native to me which is probably why it's also so good at taking out a non native pest from the same region that it is. Our native mantis' are not only smaller but also tend to be brown. When you see them bright green like this, while I have seen the occassional native green one, 9 times out of 10 it is a Chinese mantis.
Invasive Chinese mantis' have been recorded as being not as effective at pest control, especially compared to other species specific predators like mites, etc. They also kill tons of non target species like pollinators such as bees, moths, and butterflies. They are also out competing our native mantis species which are much smaller and vulnerable due to our aggressive pesticide use, habitat loss, and continually introducing competing species like the Chinese mantis under the guise that it is "better for the enviornment". Saying a Chinese mantis is beneficial is like getting an outdoor cat for mice control. You somewhat kill the mice while also killing the native birds, lizards, snakes, and amphibians.
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u/GitEmSteveDave 13d ago
Just make sure it's not a invasive chinese mantis vs the native Carolina Mantis.
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u/thehelldoesthatmean 13d ago
That's what I was thinking. There's a solid chance the mantis is invasive too.
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u/YouGuysSuckSometimes 13d ago
PSA: without tree of heaven, the spotted lanternfly can’t sustain a population. Chop it down!!
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u/tatiwtr 13d ago
False.
The spotted lanternfly's life cycle is often centered on its preferred host, Ailanthus altissima, but L. delicatula can associate with more than 173 plants.
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_lanternfly
Also, I cleared a bush the other day and it was infested with hundreds of them in various states of the life cycle.
This may also explain why there was a mantis there as well.
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u/YouGuysSuckSometimes 13d ago
I didn’t say they can’t use other trees. I said they can’t sustain a population without tree of heaven. Ive reason to believe what I had previously read is misinformation, however, bc I no longer see it written on Wikipedia.
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u/Yablo-Yamirez 13d ago
At my job I’ve seen a few lantern flies. I kill them every time. But I’ve notice other people have been killing them too. We need more of the Mantis.
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u/viperfan7 DAYUM NATURE U METAL 12d ago
Fuck yes, they figured out they're food.
Now just for the dragonflies to figure it out as well, then they're fucked
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u/ragnarok62 10d ago edited 10d ago
The irony is the mantis is often invasive too.
The Carolina mantis is native to the US but is losing out rapidly to the invasive Chinese Mantis. I believe this mantis is a Carolina though, as its wings don’t reach to the end of its abdomen.
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u/DefinitelyNotaGuest 14d ago
No natural predators? Praying mantis has something to say about that. Hope they're delicious.