Please help me out here

[CoolMantid]

So another member want to release a Chinese mantis ooth in Florida. i am telling him it will wipe out native species because they are smaller than the chinese but he wont listen. What do you think? please help me out

 

[agent A]

I doubt that will happen

1 ooth worth of nymphs may result in 20 adults, which may not even meet native species, and think of it this way, the Chinese mantis was introduced here in the first place and other species have done just fine

 

[gripen]

also stagmomantis floridensis is the same size as chinese. either way there are already chinese in florida so it wont make much of a difference.

 

[CoolMantid]

But, 20 adults will mate and produce more and more overtime. Chinese mantids are supposely rare in FL

 

[Rick]

also stagmomantis floridensis is the same size as chinese. either way there are already chinese in florida so it wont make much of a difference.

No they're not. Not even close really.

 

[lunarstorm]

Chinese mantid oothecas have been sold across the USA for backyard gardens, pets, etc. for generations, this is not a case of a new species suddenly becoming introduced. The scenario you suggest has been happening for longer than any of us have been alive. Your concerns would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[gripen]

also stagmomantis floridensis is the same size as chinese. either way there are already chinese in florida so it wont make much of a difference.

yen reported them at 3 inches. but thats beside the point chinese are naturalized and are fine to release anywhere in the US.

 

[CoolMantid]

No, they shouldnt be sold like that. But is it wrong to do so? They are not everywhere? I dont belive the person because he left our private conversation after I told him it was wrong. He said he found a wild chinese nymph but exited after I asked for proof

 

[gripen]

they have been naturalized across the country. you can release them anywhere.

 

[agent A]

even alaska????

 

[gripen]

even alaska????

shut-up

 

[lunarstorm]

Apparently even Alaska. Below is a user comment from Tom Redmon on this mantis page: http://www.itsnature.org/ground/creepy-crawlies-land/praying-mantis/

About four years ago I found a strange brown bug in my backyard near the end of the summer (mid-August). I caught it in a jar and after looking closely at this half inch bug I relized it had the characteristic front legs of a praying mantis. I was quite shocked because I live in Anchorage Alaska.

 

[CoolMantid]

Some places more than others

 

[gripen]

the gist is they can be released anywhere in the USA (even florida!!!!!!)

 

[CoolMantid]

understandable but those smaller mantids in FL will in my guess will become endangered

 

[gripen]

i highly doubt that. they would have been long gone by now. chinese mantids have been there since the 1800s.

 

[lunarstorm]

understandable but those smaller mantids in FL will in my guess will become endangered

Nope. What part of "they've already been arriving to FL for many years" are you not understanding?

 

[CoolMantid]

But have.not been sold as pest removal until recently (50 or less years ago)

 

[gripen]

50 years is 50 generations of mantids so i think we would have seen something by now...