newtoyou wrote:
There is a European mantis, but not on the isles.
As to your idea of sending some over?
First, read a bit. How did the US get gypsy moths, starlings, English sparrows and many non native pests?
Human intervention. There are international laws to prohibit the mailing non- indigenous plants and animals. For anyone who presents him or herself as an advocate of nature to propose this? Unthinkable.
Rabbits in Australia, mongoose on the Hawaiian isles, cane toads on Guam. The list is endless and growing.
Sending pin specimens is OK.
For more info check USDA guidelines on prohibited intercontinental mailings. There are also laws to prohibit sending most wildlife to another state.
For every successful transplant, benifitial to it's new environment, there are dozens of no-nos.
It is worse with plants.
Let mother nature handle her domain. She did quite well before we climbed down from the trees.
Bill
There is a European mantis, but not on the isles. ... (
show quote)
You are quite right Brenda about the human intervention in nature. It has not always turned out wrong as in the case of bringing Chinese Ringneck pheasants to America in, I believe the 1890's, but many times it has been disastrous as when nutria were introduced into Southern waters. They completely took over and are a pest and nuisance today.
Of course I was only joking about sending you some as I have only seen one in about 3 years now. Not too plentiful where I live.
Dennis
dennis2146 wrote:
You are quite right Brenda about the human intervention in nature. It has not always turned out wrong as in the case of bringing Chinese Ringneck pheasants to America in, I believe the 1890's, but many times it has been disastrous as when nutria were introduced into Southern waters. They completely took over and are a pest and nuisance today.
Of course I was only joking about sending you some as I have only seen one in about 3 years now. Not too plentiful where I live.
Dennis
The Nutria have a history that includes Maryland.
In 1930 or so they were introduced into Louisiana, most likely by a grandson of a former Baltimore banker. He had purchased Avery island in the gulf in Louisiana. He went broke when the civil war ended. Avery Island is a salt mound. He sold salt to the South, so money now no good.
He then started to find a way to recoup his losses, starting a business salt curing hot peppers and selling the product. His name was McIlhenny. Tobasco, for the area the pepper grew, is the product. His son became a noted expert on alligators.
Story is that the Nutria were an experiment to see if they were a worthwhile fur source. It is coarse, never caught on. They escaped into Louisiana and became the leading fur bearer for a time. There are now millions in Louisiana.
In 1940 a scientist with fish and wildlife introduced them into Dorchester County Blackwater Marsh area. They have caused the loss of over 3000 acres of hard Marsh and are now bountied by the state.
Since the late 70's an eradication program has been in place, it seems to hold the population steady. They are from Argentina, cold areas. But harsh winter seems to hold down population. Now with a warming trend and milder winter's, what will the population do?
With fur out of Vogue, no market, what will the population do?
Man the meddler is constantly at work. Snakeheads are the latest, and huge catfish in the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers in Maryland.
Bill
dennis2146 wrote:
You are quite right Brenda about the human intervention in nature. It has not always turned out wrong as in the case of bringing Chinese Ringneck pheasants to America in, I believe the 1890's, but many times it has been disastrous as when nutria were introduced into Southern waters. They completely took over and are a pest and nuisance today.
Of course I was only joking about sending you some as I have only seen one in about 3 years now. Not too plentiful where I live.
Dennis
Dennis, it wasn't me who mentioned human intervention in nature, but I do agree we intervene too much.
I saw a few mantis the garden when we lived in Spain, they were green ones, I don't know about their species. They were delightful though.
EnglishBrenda wrote:
I saw a few in the garden when we lived in Spain, they were green ones, I don't know about their species. They were delightful though.
The ones I have seen have been green too. I know there are some that are brown but I don't think I have seen any.
Dennis
dennis2146 wrote:
The ones I have seen have been green too. I know there are some that are brown but I don't think I have seen any.
Dennis
We have both here where I live...
newtoyou wrote:
That you can purchase them would mean they have been deemed unlikely to damage the local habitat. European moths are traded live, as are saturniids to the Islands.
On the east coast we have three mantids.
Mantis religiosa, the European.
Below refers to Carolina.
I just looked, I still have four reared female pin specimens. Three missing a front leg from a cricket bite. I learned slowly.
I would like to offer two of these to a fellow UHHer, you first. I need an address and they are on the way, one to a customer.
If Brenda uninterested, the offer is first come first serve. Address private to me for your privacy.
The above out of place, pick up with 'Tenodera, then to raising the Carolina.
Bill
Tenodera aridifolium, the Chinese.
And my favorite, our own Stagmomantis Carolina, the Carolina mantid.
This comes in red, yellow ,and greenish hues on the hind wings and is the most cryptic, almost impossible to see against bark.
The three can be IDed by cocoons. European and Carolina a flat mass, longer than wide,larger in European. The more common(less well hidden) is from the Chinese.
I have raised the Carolina thru numerous generations. They do fine in an 8x8x4 inch plastic display box. One to three to a box to start. When down to one, feed small insects.
If you feed crickets or grasshoppers, crush the head first. They easily remove the mantids leg before getting eaten. In some instances they killed the mantid, so take heed.
Bill
That you can purchase them would mean they have be... (
show quote)
That is a very generous offer Bill. I think sending them here would be risky, our post is not reliable and parcels get thrown about during their journey. Also, I don't have the right storage equipment for such treasures in our damp environment. I do intend to buy one sometime soon and will enjoy caring for it. Regarding their accidental releasing to the wild, I don't think they would survive our weather so would not become an environmental problem. Thank you again for the offer, someone nearer to you will be very lucky to have them. No doubt, I will come back to you for Mantis advice in due course.
Brenda
Screamin Scott wrote:
We have both here where I live...
Thank you. That brings up a point.
You likely have the three I mention. The Chinese mantid, Tenodera, male and female similar. Brownish with green edged outer wings. The European mantis, Mantis, female is mostly green and quite large. The male looks like the Chinese mantid. Easily mis-IDed.
The Carolina, cryptic Grey with color in hind wings. Only 2,5 inches OAL.
My offer of a Carolina mantid pinned specimen still stands.
Bill
newtoyou wrote:
Thank you. That brings up a point.
You likely have the three I mention. The Chinese mantid, Tenodera, male and female similar. Brownish with green edged outer wings. The European mantis, Mantis, female is mostly green and quite large. The male looks like the Chinese mantid. Easily mis-IDed.
The Carolina, cryptic Grey with color in hind wings. Only 2,5 inches OAL.
My offer of a Carolina mantid pinned specimen still stands.
Bill
Here is a link to mantids I have found locally...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/albums/72157675929823152
EnglishBrenda wrote:
That is a very generous offer Bill. I think sending them here would be risky, our post is not reliable and parcels get thrown about during their journey. Also, I don't have the right storage equipment for such treasures in our damp environment. I do intend to buy one sometime soon and will enjoy caring for it. Regarding their accidental releasing to the wild, I don't think they would survive our weather so would not become an environmental problem. Thank you again for the offer, someone nearer to you will be very lucky to have them. No doubt, I will come back to you for Mantis advice in due course.
Brenda
That is a very generous offer Bill. I think sendin... (
show quote)
I grew up in Western New York State. It is a state where heavy snowfall in that area is a given every year. That is where I have seen most of my Praying Mantis. They must go underground, in a log or somewhere they are not bothered by the weather as it doesn't seem to bother them.
Dennis
I see the Praying, Mantis. And the Stagmomantis, the native, carolina.
I was mistaken about the Chinese, Tenodera, they are more northern, Maryland is in its lowest range.
Bill
MJPD
Loc: Flemington, New Jersey
Green ones are Female, Brown are Male.
MJPD wrote:
Green ones are Female, Brown are Male.
Would you care to document that rather vague statement. A book, article or other. I prefer other than Uncle John said.
Bill
MJPD
Loc: Flemington, New Jersey
Thank you. Mantis religiosa is clearly understood.
Bill
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.