Tag Archives: mantis religiosa

Jumping Jehoshaphat, the grasshoppers have arrived!

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In the news…

I’m wondering if anyone is following the grasshopper outbreak in Oregon? If you don’t know about this, I’ll fill you in and include some links. Perhaps we need to round up our “mean-ole, hummingbird murdering mantids” (EXTREME SARCASM HERE!) and send them south to help out. Just kidding. If you read through the attached list of sources, you’ll see in one where they’ve now determined the mantids don’t have much of an impact on controlling grasshoppers (Fries, 2021).

If they are so bad (and from historical reports, they can indeed reach proportions on the scale of a Biblical plague), what do we do about them? Why is there such an outbreak?

Grasshopper populations cycle periodically, but it’s thought they are worst when conditions are dry. One theory is that a fungus that controls populations isn’t viable in these conditions and only works when we have damper weather.

Historically, control methods have been pretty toxic – everything from arsenic bait to other drastic measures – all environmentally hazardous. If you review old agricultural journals, records of exploding grasshopper populations conjure up images of something you’d see in a horror movie, only it was real. Historical photos exist of a landscape stripped of vegetation; bare fields and trees. Handles were eaten off wooden farm implements and fenceposts were eaten too. Crops were lost, people starved. There’s a reason it’s called a PLAGUE. 🦗🦗🦗

So, this is happening now in Oregon. Aphis is coordinating aerial spraying of wide swaths (millions of acres ) of land with an insecticide called diflubenzuron. Studies have shown diflubenzuron reduces populations of bees, butterflies, beetles, and many other species of insects. Aquatic invertebrates consumed by endangered fish and trout are also vulnerable (Xerces Society, 2022). Xerces Society has a federal lawsuit against Aphis to fight this grasshopper managment strategy. Application of this insecticide directly threatens endangered species like yellow-billed cuckoos, black-footed ferrets, bull trout, Ute ladies’-tresses orchids, Oregon spotted frogs and Spalding’s catchflies which are present in multiple states in which the insecticide spraying program operates (Xerces, 2022).

What can we do if we don’t spray? Well, I would encourage folks to look at the studies about the benefits of eating grasshoppers. They aren’t much different than shrimp. At a minimum, they could be netted, dried, and manufactured into feed for poultry, fish, and swine. We have to stop the madness. Dumping chemicals is only bringing our apocalypse closer. We won’t survive. The grasshoppers probably will. 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗

References and Further Reading

Brown, M. 2021. Forget cicadas. Drought-stricken West is getting plagued by voracious grasshoppers. LA Times. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-06-24/western-drought-brings-voracious-grasshoppers

Cannings, R.A. 2007. Recent range expansion of the Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa Linnaeus (Mantodeaz Mantidae), in British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia. 104 https://journal.entsocbc.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/101 or https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237474147_Recent_range_expansion_of_the_Praying_Mantis_Mantis_religiosa_Linnaeus_Mantodea_Mantidae_in_British_Columbia

Fries, J. 2021. Praying mantises alive and well in Okanagan. Kelowna Daily Courier. https://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/news/article_86bd5fc4-f18b-11eb-8614-d328402eb90c.html

Handschuh, D. 2021. The Hoppers are Here. Increase in number of grasshoppers noted across the Okanagan. Castanet. https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/343375/Increase-in-number-of-grasshoppers-noted-across-the-Okanagan

Larson, T. 2014. The Grasshopper Plague. Ghosts of North Dakota. https://ghostsofnorthdakota.com/2014/03/16/the-grasshopper-plague/

Morgan, Adam. 2014. IN 1937, Colorado Guard used flamethrowers and explosives against plague of locusts. National Guard. https://www.nationalguard.mil/news/article-view/article/575751/in-1937-colorado-guard-used-flamethrowers-and-explosives-against-plague-of-locu/

PARKER, J. R., R. C. NEWTON and R. L. SHOTWELL. 1955. Observations on mass flights and other activities of the migratory grasshopper. USDA Tech. Bull. 1109. 

Parker, J.R., Newton, R.C., and R.L. Shotwell. 1955. Observations on Mass Flights and Other Activities of the Migratory Grasshopper. U.S. Department of Agriculture https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=KrMXAAAAYAAJ

Reinhardt and Ganzel. 2003. Grasshoppers were a plague during the 1930’s depression. Wessels Living History Farm, Nebraska. https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/pests_02.html

Rush, C. 2022. ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests. Info.News.CA https://infotel.ca/newsitem/us-destructive-grasshoppers/cp1339611467

Thistle, J. 2008-2009. ACCOMMODATING CATTLE: British Columbia’s “Wars” with Grasshoppers and “Wild Horses”1.  BC Studies; Vancouver Iss. 160, (Winter 2008/2009): 67-70,72-91,156 https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/accommodating-cattle-british-columbias-wars-with/docview/196882595/se-2 or British Columbia’s “Wars” with Grasshoppers and “Wild Horses”1https://ojs.library.ubc.ca › article › download

Xerces Society. 2022. Lawsuit Launched Challenging USDA’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Insecticide Sprays Over Millions of Acres in U.S. West. https://xerces.org/press/lawsuit-launched-challenging-usdas-failure-to-protect-endangered-species-from-insecticide

We can EAT them! 

Imathiu, Samuel. 2020. Benefits and food safety concerns associated with consumption of edible insects. NFS Journal 18: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nfs.2019.11.002 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235236461930046X

Lopez-Santamarina A, Mondragon ADC, Lamas A, Miranda JM, Franco CM, Cepeda A. Animal-Origin Prebiotics Based on Chitin: An Alternative for the Future? A Critical Review. Foods. 2020 Jun 12;9(6):782. doi: 10.3390/foods9060782. PMID: 32545663; PMCID: PMC7353569. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7353569/

Shah AA, Totakul P, Matra M, Cherdthong A, Hanboonsong Y, Wanapat M. Nutritional composition of various insects and potential uses as alternative protein sources in animal diets. Anim Biosci. 2022 Feb;35(2):317-331. doi: 10.5713/ab.21.0447. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 34991214; PMCID: PMC8831828. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8831828/

Stull, Valerie. 2019. Bugs for our bugs? Edible insects and the microbiome. Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative. https://www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org/blog-beneath-our-feet/2019/2/27/bugs-for-our-bugs-edible-insects-and-the-microbiome

Swanson, S. 2019. This is a story about eating grasshoppers. Nevada Public Radio. Desert Companion Essay. https://knpr.org/desert-companion/2019-12/story-about-eating-grasshoppers

Yawaza, M. 2021. The History of Chapulines: ICE faculty and staff taste test edible grasshoppers from Mexico. ICE. https://ice.edu/blog/chapulines-mexican-food

Recipes

Grasshopper Tacos https://www.quericavida.com/recipes/grasshopper-tacos/35a7e337-7fb5-4ef3-b58b-50b7403b72ea

Recipe: Teriyaki Skewers with grasshoppers https://www.insectgourmet.com/teriyaki-skewers-with-grasshoppers/

https://www.insectgourmet.com/teriyaki-skewers-with-grasshoppers/

We know what happened to him!

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Avec sa tête
European Mantis (Mantis religiosa)
San Juan Island, WA 09-07-19

A picture says it all, right? I found this poor fellow when I attended the San Juan County Land Bank’s open house at the new Zylstra Lake Preserve on September 7, 2019 ~ http://sjclandbank.org/zylstra-lake-preserve-san-juan-island/ .

We know what activity he must have been participating in!

Lots of amazing artwork by Steve Thompson available on tees and posters here ~ https://www.redbubble.com/people/stevet3214/works/26202642-praying-mantis-family-photo?p=poster

Yes, it’s that time of year. You may be seeing lots of European Mantids (Mantis religiosa) about right now. They’re mate seeking. While not native, don’t worry, they aren’t taking over the island. If you’re curious about them, read my post from last year when there were rumors of them invading the San Juan’s and devouring hummingbirds (not true) https://sanjuanislander.com/news-articles/environment-science-whales/environment/28146/revenge-of-the-mantids .

While they are generalist feeders, they aren’t going to decimate our native pollinators OR eat birds. It’s far more likely they’ll be eaten (or beheaded) before they take over!

My pet mantis, Merlina
San Juan Island, 2010

Revenge of the Mantids

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clip mantis Check out my story about praying mantids on San Juan Island!  They’ve been a victim of hyper-sensationalism.  Seriously.  Read my article before you squish one.

Revenge of the mantids!

Lots of folks are commenting about seeing praying mantises on the island lately. Rumor has it they’re highly invasive and they’re eating hummingbirds! While they are non-native, I’m hoping to dispel some of the sensationalist hysteria about their presence on the island by offering information for consideration.

The mantids we are seeing right now are a species called Mantis religiosa, introduced into the southern interior of British Columbia to control grasshoppers in 1937-1938 and have expanded their range since the late 1990’s. They are identifiable by a black-ringed white spot on the inner base of their foreleg.

European mantis (Mantis religiosa) Photo by Cynthia Brast


This taxonomic feature differentiates them from the exotic Chinese Mantis, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis and native Ground Mantis, Litaneutria minor found in Washington, but not on San Juan Island. Egg sacks for European and other mantis species are available online and at garden centers for purchase. Aside from releasing them to control agricultural pests, lots of people keep mantids for pets!

As to the mantids eating hummingbirds…

While worldwide reports exist about various mantids capturing and eating hummingbirds, these are sparse, highly sensationalized accounts, most of them not occurring in the U.S. at all. A 2017 article in Wilson Journal of Ornithology reports hummingbird predation by Mantis religiosa (the ones purportedly “invading” the San Juan Islands). However, for the ENTIRE U.S., there are only 3 substantiated reports, none of which occurred in Washington, much less on San Juan Island. If you’re worried about birds, what about outdoor kitty cats with sharp teeth and claws?

Pablo Picasso’s “Cat Catching the Bird” (1939)

The mantids are killing all our pollinators…

We’ve read about pollinator die-off due to habitat degradation, pesticides, parasites, and pathogens but are mantids a menace too? Let’s look at mantis development, and consider the impact.

The mate-seeking adult mantids will die off as temperatures drop, but need to reproduce before the end of their life cycle. A mated female’s remaining energy will be spent producing a frothy egg mass of 100-400 offspring. The mass hardens into a styrofoam-like ootheca, cemented in some cryptic spot where it will remain until spring.

In spring, mantid nymphs emerge simultaneously from the egg sack. The highly competitive and cannibalistic hatchlings eat many of their siblings. It is estimated that approximately 10% survive this first stage (Hurd and Rathet, 1986).

The hatchling Mantis religiosa nymph, a tiny replica of the adult, must complete 8 or 9 developmental stages, shedding its exoskeleton (molting) each time. During a molt, the mantis must hang upside down to shed its skin, leaving it extremely vulnerable to predation and to accidental injury. The mantis cannot fall from where it hangs or it risks becoming stuck in the old skin. With each stage of development, the mantis must find food and shelter and manage to evade predation by birds, reptiles, spiders, or even other insects like robber flies or dragonflies.

During spring and into early summer, the mantis is pretty small. Although hundreds emerged from the egg sack, very few become adults. They will prey on pollinators, but so do birds, reptiles, spiders, dragonflies, robber flies, and even certain wasps. One fact you may not know is mantis nymphs often survive in spring on pollen! 

I kept two European mantids as pets for about ten months and found they preferred to dine on flies. They would eat yellowjackets, but typically only if they were really hungry and only if I cracked open the hard-shell for them first. Their appetites increased as fall approached. One night a swarm of termites emerged from a tree stump by my door. Lucky for the mantids, I had my bug net handy. One ate 30 or 40 termites that night. A few nights later, I had an egg sack cemented to the window screen. I found “Merlina” on the floor the next morning, a victim of feline curiosity.

Most islanders didn’t notice these mantids until late summer and early fall. If you saw one eating a pollinator (unless it’s a bumble bee queen or honey bee), that insect was nearing the end of its natural life cycle and doesn’t overwinter. The pollinators have done their job. The trees, garden plants, and flowers aren’t in need of pollination anymore. Winter is around the corner. If the mantis catches and eats one of these, I believe it is nature’s way of cleaning up.

About the author

Cynthia Brast has a M.S. in Entomology and Nematology from the University of Florida, Gainesville. She welcomes your bug photos and questions.

References

Cannings, R.A. 2007. Recent range expansion of the Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa Linnaeus (Mantodea: Mantidae), in British Columbia. J. Entomol. Soc. Brit. Columbia, 104: 73-80.

Hurd, L.E., and I. H. Rathet. 1986. Functional response and success in juvenile mantids. Ecology, 67(1):163-167

Kral, K., 2014. Orientation behavior with and without visual cues in newly hatched and adult praying mantis. Journal of Insect Behavior, 27: 192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9415-3

Nyffeler, M., M.R. Maxwell, and J.V. Remsen. 2017. Bird predation by praying mantises: A global perspective. Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 129(2), 331-344. doi:10.1676/16-100.1

 

 

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