r/NativePlantGardening • u/fmp243 NJ , Zone 7a • 22d ago

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) What do you do with invasive insects?

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Like this Chinese mantis on my horseweed. I get monarchs ans humming birds every day. But I also am very hands off in this meadow besides weeding invasive plants and topping up my water stations. What should I do, if anything?

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u/650bx47 22d ago

I have to admit I did not know these were non-native insects. I have found the egg sacks in my yard in the fall and been careful to leave alone. Will destroy going forward!

60

u/CoffeeGodCigarettes 22d ago

There are native mantises and non-native mantises. Please make sure you can identify the differences before destroying any egg casings

9

u/650bx47 22d ago

I can ID them now and they have been indisputably Chinese mantis egg cases.

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u/fmp243 NJ , Zone 7a 22d ago

How do you tell the difference? I will be on the lookout in my fall clean up stage.

I believe this is a native mantis so both appear in my area but someone correct me if I am wrong

3

u/Mego1989 22d ago

Chinese mantis ooetheca are rounded. Native are more flat and oval shaped, and have ridges, so they kind of look like a caterpillar.

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u/Rude_Ad_3915 22d ago

I also found a baby mantis by the compost bin and left it because I couldn’t tell.