I recently made an impulse buy at Lowe's where I found these cute little containers of praying mantis egg sacs. I initially hesitated, but after seeing my flowers covered in aphids, I convinced myself to get one since they supposedly eat lots of pests. However, after scanning the QR code on the container, I discovered that I bought an invasive species, the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), which is not recommended for release into the wild. Now I'm torn between returning it for a refund or figuring out another way to handle this situation. Is there a way to safely keep them, like as pets, or should I just stick to returning them? Any thoughts?
4 Answers
But, aren’t Chinese Mantises seasonal? They’ve been around a while, so are they really that bad? I mean, it seems like they’ve already settled into the landscape.
Honestly, I’d suggest returning the egg sac if you can. It’s not worth the risk of releasing an invasive species, even if it seems harmless. Keeping it at room temperature will hatch them quickly, so it’s best to put it in the fridge until you decide what to do. You could also contact Lowe's to let them know about the issues with selling these!
Totally agree! I wouldn't want to be responsible for an invasion just because it was on sale.
If returning isn’t an option, killing them is definitely better than releasing them. I get it’s not a fun choice, but releasing them can harm local ecosystems. Plus, they’ve become a problem in other areas! Thanks for doing your research, though!
Exactly! It’s not easy to think about, but invasive species can really mess things up for local wildlife.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could always try edible insects! Depending on how adventurous you are, people say they can be prepared in various ways, though I wouldn’t recommend it. Just be careful about backyard release; it can have serious consequences!
Yeah, but invasive species can still cause long-term harm. Just because they're common now doesn’t mean they aren't outcompeting local species.