I LOVE all the mantises in my garden! They legitimately staved off all the lanternfly/stink bug problems other gardens have had in this region. I purposely grow berries and other plants to encourage a nice habitat for them. They love my arctic kiwi vines and elderflower trees. I find about 10-25 egg sacks between late fall and early spring. They’ve kept my fruit trees and vegetable garden safe from tons of pests for years now. They’re so chill too. They’ll just sneakily move around me while I pick cucumbers or tomato’s and just go about their business like they know me lol.

Very important information. We have a few that show up in our yard every year. I know I am even more happy to see them now. I dislike stink bugs. Thank You Sir...CUT!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Uncle Dave. 😁 I'm glad you watched to the end to see that snippet! That was some archived footage from a long, long time ago... 😆

@davenooner2142

Жыл бұрын

@@Albopepper Yes cute ending... I always am engaged by your videos. Thank You for the good information again!

It's refreshing to see info that isn't biased against all non-natives!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that! I made a point to mention the native mantis option. But being "non-native" doesn't make the Chinese or European mantises inherently bad. Hopefully people will learn the difference between non-natives and _actual_ invasives!

Earthworms and honeybees are also “non-native”, but you can’t deny that they are very beneficial!

@Albopepper

9 ай бұрын

Yes, and think of all of the wonderful food crops that have been introduced in various lands!

Love this video, I have 6 hummingbird feeders and a pollinator garden in the back so I was like, "idk if this is for me" and then you were like "this is not for you". mantises hunting lantern flies is freaking rad. we need more wild chickens roaming the streets

Chinese Mantids are so hated. However, they’re an integrated species by now. I’m glad you’re sticking up for the Chinese mantis, I remember seeing mantis hobbyists hate on them

After 5 yrs of stink bug infestation I am happy to see this-My house is 91 y/o and it's impossible to seal all of its parts. I have relocated as many as 8 or 10 stinkbugs from my livingroom in one day. This year I will engage mantises. I like them, anyhow. Thank you so much.

Thanks for all of your work on this. Great info!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

You bet! Thanks for watching. 🙂

Great video!! 👍🏻 Thank you!

I enjoyed the pics,video and you did a good job explaining it all. Thanks!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. 😃

good info as always buddy.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching man! I hope you're having a great Summer. 🙂

Indeed.. The Tyrannosaurus Rex of the insect world!

This dumb argument saying Chinese mantis are “invasive” is just ignorant. They’ve been here over a century folks, local mantis are still thriving too. I hated that National Geographic article. This animals are amazing and we need their help to fight these real invasive pest.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

I agree, we need all the help we can get!

Thank you for this video! I have learned a LOT over the years from your channel. First about LED lighting for indoor growing and now this. Hope your dad is well and thanks again. I will be ordering some mantises soon.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching! I really appreciate your support on my channel. 😁

Well don great video and info

Thanks for sharing.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Thanks for watching! 🙂

That was eye-opening! Thanks Albo! Here in South Jersey we've got the dreaded Spotted Lantern Fly. We've also got stink bugs. During years when I am able, I grow a small vegetable garden. I like the idea of natural pest control, but I can't get around the idea that larger praying mantises can eat hummingbirds (shocker!). So I'm left pondering whether to introduce mantises (they are already here, but what I mean is acquiring egg sacs and putting more into the environment here. I'd have to go with Carolina strain, so that maybe the hummingbirds would be safer. But I worry about the bees and other pollinators. I saw what those bugs did to your peppers. I can't have that nonsense. What a conundrum.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching! I understand entirely. After a couple years of buying the egg cases I decided to stop doing so. I figured that either my property can support a naturalized population or else I'll just skip them. As it turns out, they kept coming back year after year. But I don't have any hummingbird feeders on my lot. For some, it can be a tough decision. Either way, I personally would never ever intentionally kill them or their egg cases. I find that to be extreme and unnecessary. Stink bugs and their eggs? Spotted lanternflies and their eggs? Yeah! That's a different story. Those guys are goners!!!

@kele1264

Жыл бұрын

@@Albopepper I agree - I was taught as a child never to harm praying mantises. The others are, just like you said, goners! I hadn't seen a praying mantis in years, until 2 years ago I saw one sitting on a leaf on one of my eggplant pants. I stifled fear, and took a good look at it. As I was studying it, it turned its head and looked straight at me. I nearly fainted - I didn't know they could turn their heads like that! I thought to myself that maybe I shouldn't have watched so many horror movies over the years.

I’m always thrilled when I see an egg case in my garden!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Me too! Thanks for watching. 😁

Very interesting 🤔

Bring on the Mantis... I have not seen any hummingbirds in my area for years, so it's safe to bring in the Praying Mantis. Like he said; just stop feeding hummingbirds until we get control of the lantern flys. When I'm at work taking my lunch break outside, these L.flies fly and bounce off my hat and back. Also landing all around us. We've also noticed that they are quicker at getting away, when we go to step on them. Yes, they are learning...😋🙄

I love. The preying mantises. I didn’t know there were two types. I think I’ll buy some this year

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! This is a great time of year to buy the egg cases. Don't wait too long if you plan on doing it this season.

Iv always thought praying mantis were cool. Awesome to know that they eat latern flys and stink bugs.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

I know! I thought it was bad enough when we got hit with the stink bugs. And now the lanternflies are just going crazy! Our state in PA has quarantine counties. But it hasn't done much to stop the spread... 😨

Thanks for sharing info about stinkbug and mantis. Stinkbugs are a terrible pests damaging immature fruit by stinging it. While this does not render most fruits useless it severely lowers the quality of fruit. Also some fruits start to rot (tomato, pepper) or even shed fruit (persimmon) when stung.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Yeah, those stinkbugs are horrible! And these spotted lanterflies are taking over as well. It amazes me that people are so misinformed that they try to lump Chinese mantises into the exact same category. Chinese mantises don't do anything to harm our crops nor are they a danger to humans. They don't threaten our ecosystem, but that doesn't stop people on facebook from vilifying them.

I had many young in my yard this year. I hope they get big enough to take out the lantern fly

My wife had some cocoons that she put in her truck under the seat, she forgot about them and we were traveling when they hatched, it was very eventful

Great information....but don't watch this video while eating...that was my mistake LOL!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

LOL! Good point. I tried to be mindful of viewers. I didn't want to over dramatize the mantises' feeding habits. Even still, it's not the ideal topic for dinner conversation! Thanks for watching.

Imagine if praying mantis is 6ft + tall and you got caught by it in the jungle

Just a helpful tip, if you see them around your flowers try to relocate them. Since they'll most likely catch beneficials there. It may not do a lot, but it could help offset any harm they may do.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip. Perhaps that would help out! 😀

@eric2500

11 ай бұрын

But all my plants flower, and I want the fruits and veggies pollinated!

nice video

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I appreciate it. 🙂

Good Afternoon

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Good day to you!

This year my garden was covered with lanterflies.none of my fruits especially grapes had fruit. I see the occasional ma ti's but I need more help. Next year I am getting egg cases!!

Good info. I always liked the Chinese mantis. Bigger mantis means it will eat more bugs.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

That's a good point! Thanks for watching. 🙂

This is very helpful, thank you! My garden is mainly ornamental. Do you suggest the Carolina mantis? I am sad to hear about hummingbirds so don't want to ever potentially harm them. I hate spotted lantern flies and stink bugs. The give me the creeps. For some odd reason, the mantis doesn't bother me.

Its weird haven't seen praying mantis past few years and use see them all time and im in the woods forrest and none this year no where : (

You missed 1 terribly annoying pest that haunts me every year. The Asian Lady Beetle (faux ladybugs that also stink if they sense danger which also leaves a “great” orange stain!). These seem to invade our house around mid to late October every year in the thousands. Whilw they no longer have a stronghold within the house…still a terrible locust-like site when you peer out a sunny window. And who knows, they may be all up in the infrastructure, as I believe they eat wood. Do Mantids, specifically Carolina Mantids live long enough to protect us so late in fall? Figure I could have some pet ones I keep inside up to early fall, time the release 😂

Haha I have always loved these little critters. They seem majestic to me but I love "bugs".

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Thanks for watching. I think they are quite cool. 😀

I always find them on my mailbox on my porch. I just let them be even though they creep me out when I have to be next to it to get into my house and feel like it's staring me down 😂. It was green and huge! I took some pictures of it bcuz I haven't seen one in years, until last year and it was very cold out too. It was around October/Nov, i think. Fuck stink bugs and lantern flies. I don't see many stink bugs anymore but we recently started getting more lantern flies.

@Albopepper

11 ай бұрын

I definitely understand your sentiments! I'll take any little bit of help that I can get to keep down those nasty pest populations. 😠

Anything that eats stink bugs is alright with me! I do have praying mantis already, but probably not large enough for stink bugs. I’ll be checking into getting some bigger ones!

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Nice! Yeah, I have zero complaints with the ones that have been living in my garden. Thanks for watching!

While I don't disagree Chinese mantids get a bad wrap. It would be worth noting carolina mantis is not a all in one native species. it only exists in a region on the east coast. Mid america area. They are a sub species of a group called stagmomantis. There are many species of stagmomantis and they are not all the same. Buying a carolina ooth and releasing it out side of its region makes it invasive or it may not survive because the climate is not correct. Especially for the chinese mantis. There are a lot of places it cannot live which is why its not so wide spread in america. But you might find they do well in your garden but that is most likely because you have an oasis for them. They may be able to survive there but out side of your garden might be different. Such as the chinese needs more humidity than most american species. But still a good video to make people like mantids. But i would suggest people go out and find local mantids to bring back to there garden instead. Learn the difference between male and female. Then maybe even cage mate a pair for an ooth next year.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

You make an excellent point that the Carolina Mantis is not native across the entire US. Introducing it outside of its native range won't make it "invasive" though.

do you have a link where someone wanting to order the eggs could so?

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! No, I don't have a link. I suggest starting with ebay and searching for "praying mantis egg case." I've gotten good products this way in the past.

@rodnawilliams9398

Жыл бұрын

@@Albopepper thank you very much

Yeah I'm thinking of something cuz I have an issue with cucumber beetles killing my crops in my garden. So I'm hoping that these little guys will help out From Amazon you get a bunch of eggs sacks should you let them all hatch or just one? 12 ft by 12 ft vegetable garden

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Hopefully they help out! I would place at least 2 in the garden. If you have extra, you can place them elsewhere on your property. Or if your property is small, perhaps a neighbor would be interested in a couple. Thanks for watching!

@mkulchar

Жыл бұрын

@@Albopepper If there's tons of them in an egg I have hundreds right around the garden then? Will they kill the bees?

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

As they get bigger, the population quickly drops off. They can easily get picked off by birds or other predators. You may start out with hundreds of babies, but by the end of the season you might only be able to spot a couple adults.

@ohnoao9847

Жыл бұрын

​@@mkulchar They'll kill each other if there's no other food source

I was just photographing one this evening. Looked like it was dancing to my music think it was a female

*Has the mantis naturalized?* Do we have any native mantids?

@Albopepper

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. The answer will vary depending on where you live.

Im gonna buy sone just because the spotted kanetrnflies are indane right now.

I cannot help but think that some of our extinct species, like the Passenger Pigeon, might do a more effective job at keeping down such exotics as the stink bug.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

I've read that cardinals were observed to go after the spotted lanternflies. I'll take any help I can get, wherever it comes from!

I know this is the wrong the video to ask these 2 questions but I have SIPS (5 years old) and they literally have no nutrients anymore. I got almost no yield last summer out of 14 tubs. In zone 7a/7b-Oklahoma. So if I choose to use non organic slow release fertilizer, is it too late to add the fertilizer. Regardless of if its organic or nonorganic, it still takes 3-4 months to start release right? So my questions-1. Am I too late to add the slow release. 2. I have some bags of leaves that were gathered in October. Can I add them now or should I wait til this summer season is over.? Thank you for everything you do to help us.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your question. Have you seen this video? kzread.info/dash/bejne/qYKnz5OSoLvSkso.html It talks all about fertilization. I typically expect time release to work quickly after application. It might take weeks to see improvement, but not months. If using a time release, you will get a long extended period of nutrient release. For short-term super fast results, try a liquid feed for a couple weeks while you wait for the other fertilizers to kick in.

@Natash_007

Жыл бұрын

You might buy some big bags of worm castings to juice up your soil. I found last summer that Home Depot had the best prices.

Thanks for the well balanced info. I have a neighbor whos a crazy conservation guys and goes around killing them. The guys a real tool.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear that. Maybe this info can help him to consider extra factors for a less aggressive approach. Thanks for watching! 🙂

Thank you, that was really interesting and informative! Still too cold for them to create a persistent population where I live, so fingers crossed for global warming! (just joking) Althought I'd love to have predator bug bigger than Soldier beetle in the garden. Last year Buffalo treehopper invasion obliterated half of my okra seedlings before I even identified them as a cause. This wouldn't have happened with mantis roaming around.

@Albopepper

Жыл бұрын

Cool! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry to hear about the treehopper problem. That's so frustrating! 😞

If there’s one thing I would not want to be bigger on earth it would be preying mantises

@Albopepper

11 ай бұрын

Then this movie might give you nightmares! 😱 😱 kzread.info/dash/bejne/m32esayTl72fo5M.htmlsi=m75QsV5GBF3aQMVu&t=74

They make it seem like you can just go get some for pest control

@Albopepper

11 ай бұрын

I found it super easy to order the egg cases in the late winter from ebay.

LOL the Enemy of My Enemies!!!!!!

Oradicating on sight

From another tHread on another channel, planting MILK WEED poisons lantern flies and nourishes monarchs!

@Albopepper

11 ай бұрын

*"Milkweed is toxic to spotted lanternfly."* According to Penn State Extension educators, milkweed leaves contain cardiac glycosides. These compounds affect heart function, making them toxic to most species of birds and mammals, so these predators avoid them. However, there is no science currently showing that milkweed is poisonous to the spotted lanternfly, Leach said. www.psu.edu/news/impact/story/spotted-lanternfly-experts-debunk-myths-about-prodigious-pestilent-pest/