How to attract praying mantises to your garden

Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers: Grow flowers that attract small insects, such as marigolds, cosmos, or dill.

Create Diverse Plantings: A diverse garden with a variety of plants, including tall shrubs, grasses

Provide Shelter: Praying mantises need hiding spots where they can rest and hunt for prey.

Avoid Using Pesticides: Chemical pesticides can kill both praying mantises and their food sources

Purchase Mantis Egg Cases: You can buy mantis egg cases from garden centers or online and place them in your garden in early spring

Provide a Water Source: Although praying mantises get most of their moisture from their prey, adding a small, shallow water source such as a dish

Maintain a Balanced Ecosystem: A garden that supports various beneficial insects and plants will naturally attract praying mantises.

Use Tall Plants for Perching: Praying mantises prefer to perch on taller plants to survey their surroundings and ambush prey

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