Oh, hello!

This is a Carolina mantis, Stagmomantis carolina (do you see him? He's looking at you!) — one of our own native, (very!) beneficial insects. This one is a nymph, or baby. It preys on aphids, leafhoppers, small caterpillars, flies, and moths. Because it evolved alongside our native prey and predators, it fits into the food web without disrupting it — it's a natural part of a balanced garden ecosystem.

These are wonderful to have around, since they help keep pest populations in check naturally.

You may have seen praying mantis egg cases sold at garden centers as a form of natural pest control — but be careful when purchasing, and make sure you know what you're actually getting! Most mantis eggs sold in stores belong to invasive species. Here in the mid-Atlantic, the ones you're most likely to run into are the Chinese mantis and the European mantis, along with a lookalike called the narrow-winged mantis — all introduced from Asia and Europe, some accidentally and some intentionally (as misguided pest control).

A Chinese mantis can reach up to 5" long — nearly twice the size of a Carolina mantis! Since they're indiscriminate predators, they'll go after whatever comes into range, including native bees, butterflies, and even small vertebrates like hummingbirds and tree frogs. They'll also eat smaller mantises, including our native Carolina mantis. A generalist ambush predator that size does real damage to pollinator activity in a garden.

The best way to get Carolina mantises in your yard is to attract them naturally! They're already common in South Jersey gardens with enough structure and prey — leaving perennial stems standing over winter, planting native grasses and forbs for perches, and skipping broad-spectrum insecticides tends to bring them in and keep them there, no purchase necessary.

If you do want to buy mantis eggs, make sure the Latin name matches Stagmomantis carolina — the Carolina mantis.