AusBonsai

Hey guys, was wondering if you could help me identify this insect and give me some advise on whether it's a hindrance or a help..
A few have been showing up on multiple species of trees and I'm hoping they are there to prey on the buggers who are likely to be eating my plants!

Thanks for your help

Def Praying Mantis!

Look after them!! They are guardians of the garden!


Cheers
Elmar

Yep Preying Mantis. They are literally weapons, viscous little creatures who devour unsavoury bugs. Keep them around, they'll help if anything!

Indeed, always a pleasure to find one of these on one of my trees keeping a close watch over them. And they do have a good appetite too!

I love mantids, been keeping an eye out on my windows at night as that's where I usually find bigger ones. Must be getting warmer!

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I love praying mantis too. I always look after them because they are cool. As far as protecting your plants ...Nah, they eat flys, bees and spiders mostly. I've never seen them eat a caterpillar, and moths only fly at night.

If you have native veg they may be after something in canopy. I have seen Crested Hawks (now called Pacific Baza)??.....Lost? hunting praying mantis by crashing into eucalypt dominated canopy and snavelling them.

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Good to know! Thanks for the info guys

My favorite insect. Here is one under a leaf. Watch them as they mature, grow wings and fly off in a few weeks.

treeman wrote:I love praying mantis too. I always look after them because they are cool. As far as protecting your plants ...Nah, they eat flys, bees and spiders mostly. I've never seen them eat a caterpillar, and moths only fly at night.

I've seen them gobble up ants, picking them off the branches. Not sure what the taste would have been like for them, but my gosh they are quick with those front arms when they want to grab something. Beautiful creatures.

They've grown pretty big now these guys. I think I annoy them a fair bit when working on the trees, making them run from top to bottom to avoid my prying hands
Incredible to watch..

Very nice! Bet you haven't had any other pest problems lol

Haven't seen any here yet this year found some good one's last year though

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I was happy to see a large one around my plants the other day. Have to admit though, he's not beautiful

Nice one Redsonic.

I have a few in my trees too. Their favourite trees are the azaleas and Hokkaido. I haven't seen one for a while, hopefully it's because they're breeding...

I was happy to see a large one around my plants the other day. Have to admit though, he's not beautiful

I'd be willing to bet that as it is a large one 'he' will most likely be a 'she'