Where to look for mantids in the wild

[delp300]

I'm just getting interested in keeping a mantis as a pet but the high cost of shipping has so far been a turn off to me since I'm not even sure I'll like keeping them as a pet.

Before I break down and buy one I want to spend some time hunting for one outdoors but I don't really know where to look.

Are there certain kinds of plants they like to hang out on? I would imagine it would be whatever kind of plant that their prey hangs out on but I don't know what that would be.

Is there a time of day when one is more likely to be spotted?

Any other tips would be appreciated.

I live in Alexandria, Virginia just outside of DC if anyone has regional advice or knows of a place or individual around here who sells them.

 

[Morpheus uk]

Dont have a clue what sort of mantids native you have there but the majority of mantids are nocturnal so i would say dusk is a good time to looks, also they would most likly be hiding in very tall grasses and shrubbery, some might be high in trees, hope this helps and you find some

 

[Rick]

Weedy areas like overgrown lots, fence lines etc are the best places. Anyplace that has plenty of food like grasshoppers is a good place. Weeds that are waist to chest high.

 

[Asa]

I live in Manassas, an hour away from DC, and the only mantid I've ever seen in Alexandria (I stayed there for a year) were Chinese praying mantids. Luckily for me, I love them. Big, easy to take care of, and cute . Like Rick said, the best place to find them is in tall grass, with lots of crickets and grasshoppers. Get a Praying Mantis, please!

 

[delp300]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be down at the nature trail near my house today so I'll keep my eye open for tall grass out there.

 

[Birdfly]

In Prete Prete & Wells book the Praying Mantids, they suggest old fields, i guess this is like old meadows and fields left to go wild enough to have established flowering plants, the insects and pollenators that live and visit there and provide enough food for the mantids in turn?

 

[delp300]

I spent close to two hours today wandering around in the woods while walking the dog but I didn't have any luck. I feel like my chances are pretty slim but it's fun to get out and look

This area near my house looks to be a great place for finding them. There are wooded trails and open areas with tall grass.

 

[Rick]

I spent close to two hours today wandering around in the woods while walking the dog but I didn't have any luck. I feel like my chances are pretty slim but it's fun to get out and look This area near my house looks to be a great place for finding them. There are wooded trails and open areas with tall grass.

Find an overgrown lot or something. When I find a decent area I can find hundreds of mantids.

 

[Asa]

Maybe it's just me, but I never find a whole lot of mantids in one place. The most I've found in one field would be about 10. I guess I'm just bad.