Praying Mantis: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them
When it comes to insects or fascinating bugs, the praying mantis occupies perhaps the first place in the list, because these bichillos of singular appearance do not cease to be the center of attention in the complex and incredible insectivorous kingdom.
And it is not only their physical characteristics that arouse such interest, because their behavior is another reason.
Much has been said about how beneficial these insects are for gardens and gardens in homes. Even, there are those who like to have them at home as if it were just another pet.
However, others prefer not to have them near or between their plants, in case they are dangerous or not.
Well, whether you like these bichillos or not, if you are interested in knowing more, stay with us.
Here in “the definitive guide of the praying mantis and how to eliminate it” you will find everything you need about this insect.
From its characteristics, behavior and curiosities, to the most useful remedies and solutions to eliminate it.
So, do not say more! Let’s start the walk through the world of the wonderful and intriguing praying mantis.
What is the praying mantis?
The praying mantis, also called santateresa, mamboretá or mantis, is an insect of the order Mantodea and the Mantidae family.
It has been given that name because of the particular way in which it holds its front legs.
And, for many, it seems to have a prayer attitude, thus receiving the denomination “religious“.
In its appearance, this insect is easy to distinguish by its thin and elongated body, almost 3.2 inches in length.
Its head is triangular in shape and has a pair of large, protruding eyes at the ends.
The mobility of your head and the disposition of your eyes give you an excellent binocular vision.
Regarding its legs, these are pointed and are covered with small thorns like blades.
The praying mantis can have varied colors, be they green or brown tones with different shades.
This helps them to camouflage themselves between the plants and the earth, passing unnoticed in front of prey and predators.
The color in its adult stage is related to the environment in the habitat that they choose in their last molt.
Thus, the yellow mantises have finished developing between litter or dry straw.
On the other hand, the bright green ones have remained during their last stage among the fresh grass.
As for their behavior, the praying mantis is usually active only during the day, and always walk alone.
This except for the mating season, where they are seen as pairs.
They have a cannibal behavior, since the female engulfs the male at the time of mating or after it.
This strange tendency is known in the insect world as a behavior of sexual cannibalism.
Why do praying mantis appear?
Now that you know what the praying mantis is, you may be wondering what the causes of its occurrence are.
Well, in that case, the first thing you should know is that these bichillos are native to the temperate zones.
Likewise, they can be present in any type of vegetation and in all parts of the world.
And, although they come from Europe, Asia and North Africa, they have spread all over the world.
The praying mantis has preference for deciduous forests and thick vegetation of temperate zones.
However, it is common to find it among the gardens of houses, hidden among the plants, in search of food.
For this reason, if you have a garden or garden at home, or if you have plants inside it, you may be lucky enough to find one of these bugs walking around.
This is even more likely if you have other pests lurking in your spaces, such as spiders, flies and other insects.
Types or species of praying mantis
You may find it surprising but there are about 2,400 species of praying mantis around the world.
Each of them has characteristics and a very particular way of life, but all of them, however unpleasant they may seem, are linked to the detested cockroaches.
As mentioned earlier, some species of this insect have the habit of devouring the male in mating.
This they do to get a source of protein that will help them to lay their eggs.
As for appearance, the praying mantises can be of varied colors and have the ability to camouflage themselves.
Thus, they adopt tonalities and forms similar to the elements of nature to keep hidden and ambush their prey.
In view of the fact that there are so many species of this peculiar bug, here we name some of the most common.
African mantis
Green or brown, it is one of the largest mantis species in the world. Some people adopt it as a pet because of its docile and peaceful nature.
Budwing mantis
It bears his name because of how short the wings of the female of this species are. In general, it has light or brown colors, with dark and light spots all over its body.
Dead leaf mantis
It is one of the largest species, from Malaysia, which is camouflaged as a dry leaf.
Giant asian mantis
It is usually bright green, although it may also have yellow or brown tones. It is usually adopted as a pet, because it is quite simple to care for.
Orchid mantis
As the name implies, this mantis is camouflaged and makes it look like a beautiful orchid. Its colors are pink and white, and has lobes on the legs that resemble the petals of the flower.
Sting of the praying mantis
Contrary to what some believe, the praying mantis is quite harmless, as it does not usually attack people.
In fact, this bichillo prefers to avoid contact with human beings, staying camouflaged between the plants and the earth.
It is so quiet this animal that many people take him as a pet and place it deliberately in his garden.
However, like any other insect, the praying mantis can be somewhat aggressive if it feels threatened.
Thus, it can bite or scratch with the spines of its legs, resulting in light and little painful injuries.
Of course, the bigger the insect, the greater the damage it can cause when defending itself.
Either way, the bite of a praying mantis is not common and it is not a huge risk.
These insects do not possess poison or transmit diseases through their bite, so it is not something to worry about.
Are praying mantis dangerous?
If you read the previous segment carefully, you will know that the praying mantis is not a potentially dangerous insect.
Well, although it can bite sometimes or cause scratches with the blades on its legs, it is not a real risk.
So much so that in some gardens they are used as a natural mechanism for the control of other pests.
This has made it one of the most popular insects for gardeners and plantation lovers.
To give you an idea, an adult mantis can eat up to 25 flies over a day.
Therefore, more than a danger, it is a great help in the control of other unwanted bugs.
In view of this, many people have taken the praying mantis as a pet, conserving it in their garden.
However, you should not forget that, like any animal, you can attack if you feel injured or threatened.
How to eliminate the praying mantis?
Although praying mantises are not a danger or plague in themselves, some people do not feel empathy for them.
If you are one of them, here are some simple and effective tips to eliminate this insect.
Manual withdrawal
Although it seems silly or perhaps unattractive, this method is one of the most effective ways to eliminate this bug.
If you want to get rid of the mantis, you just have to take it and place it in a box or container.
Thus, you can release it elsewhere, instead of killing it.
If the insect is relatively large, it is best to use gloves or tweezers to take it.
This way you will avoid being bitten or hurt if you feel attacked or bothered.
Soapy water
This is one of the most practical, easy and accessible home remedies to repel hundreds of insects.
Generally, it is used to ward off pests such as bugs and beetles, but it also works in these cases.
What you should do is take a bottle with spray, fill it with water and pour soap to wash dishes.
After shaking hard, you can spray the mixture directly on the animal and you will get rid of it.
This measure is quite effective because, by repelling other insects, it prevents the mantis from appearing in the surroundings.
Having no food, he will have no choice but to take the road to another place.
To do this, we recommend spraying your plants every so often with this mixture, and thus maintain the repellent effect.
Home remedies to eradicate praying mantis
If you still do not like the idea of having these little guests in your garden, try these home remedies.
Beer repellent
Beer is one of the most used ingredients when it comes to fighting insects.
You can prepare a powerful repellent with only one still beer, a little bit of mouthwash, yeast and Epsom salts.
To do this, you must place equal parts of each ingredient in a spray bottle and then shake very well.
Then, you only have to spray the mixture for the places where you do not want to see these bugs and, that’s it!
Nettle purine
This home remedy is really simple and well known by those who seek to repel all kinds of insects.
To do so, you only need a non-metallic container, 10 liters of water and 100 grams of nettles.
You must pour all the ingredients in the container and let them marinate for approximately 48 hours.
Once this time has elapsed, you must strain the mixture and pour it into a container with spray.
Next, spray the liquid on the plants and in places where you do not want to see bichillos hanging around.
This will be enough to keep all insects away from your home, including praying mantis.
More tricks to kill praying mantis
If the previous tips have not convinced you at all, do not worry! Here are other tricks that will serve you.
Turmeric to repel the praying mantis
If you want to avoid the appearance of this insect in your garden and surroundings, turmeric may be the solution.
You just have to take a little of this spice and sprinkle it between the plants and in the places that you want to protect.
Thanks to its curcumin content, the bugs will end up suffocating and will die.
Also, the antimicrobial effect makes the environment unbearable for pests, keeping them away.
Promote the presence of natural predators
As is typical of the food chain, the praying mantis has certain predators that threaten its existence.
The main ones are insectivorous birds, such as robins, thrushes, larks and nightingales.
In this sense, an easy way to kill these and other insects is to promote the presence of these birds.
For this, it is advisable to place houses and bird feeders in the gardens and their surroundings.
If you take into account this advice, you will see how this and other bugs do not give signs of life in your garden.
Well, since you know the praying mantis and how to eliminate it, you can decide if you want to keep it or not.
However, do not forget that this little bug is beneficial for orchards and gardens, and that it can serve you a lot.
If you have problems with certain bugs, letting a mantis wander between your plants can be a good alternative.
So, if you see one of these insects over there, you may think twice before ending it.
But if there is no way you like it, you can always use our advice to eliminate the praying mantis.
Related posts
Contents
- 1 Praying Mantis: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them
- 2 What is the praying mantis?
- 3 Why do praying mantis appear?
- 4 Types or species of praying mantis
- 5 Sting of the praying mantis
- 6 Are praying mantis dangerous?
- 7 How to eliminate the praying mantis?
- 8 Home remedies to eradicate praying mantis
- 9 More tricks to kill praying mantis
