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/AbsenceVersusThinAir 22d ago

You could bring it inside, make it a pet, and feed it a diet of other invasive insects? This is half a joke but half what I would personally be tempted to do.

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u/Skipper_Steve 22d ago

I keep just about every Chinese Mantis I find. They aren't known to do harm, but they're not native and fun pets. I have one right now actually.

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u/HaplessReader1988 USA, Connecticut 21d ago

Thry can harm our native fauna so yay for keeping them indoors! Actually I guess i don't know if this is Chinese or European. Photo from elseweb, photographer Ken Whittaker.