What would happen if someone released a Religiosa into the wild in the uk?

[harryallard]

I'm not saying I would do it :lol:

but would it survive and what would the consequences be (if any)?

 

[mrblue]

just the one? the consequences would probably be nil. as for what would happen, with the weather we have been having the past few days in london i reckon it would do ok for a while. however it would never make it through the winter (if it even got that far which is doubtful), and as it is the only one would not be able to lay an ootheca to overwinter.

 

[Christian]

The winter is not a problem. But the UK lacks enough hot and warm weather from May-October to allow this species to establish. If it could, it would have established for millenia already. M. religiosa also occurs in parts of Siberia, which shows that winter temperatures are of minor importance.

 

[chrisboy101]

would it not be illegal to let a mantis go in the wild. - uk

 

[Christian]

Despite of being illegal or not, it is ethically and ecologically unresponsible to do it. I just focused my answer on the correction of mrblue's "winter theory".

 

[mrblue]

M. religiosa also occurs in parts of Siberia, which shows that winter temperatures are of minor importance.

wow, i was sure our (infrequent, admittedly) snows and general winter cold would be the killer but i guess not!

 

[The_Asa]

What parts of Siberia can they live in? I know the southern section of Siberia is a long shot from northern Siberia.

 

[Christian]

It reaches 54°N at about 70°E (East of Ural). It also occurs in the Amur region.