where can i buy praying mantis

 

Where Can I Buy a Praying Mantis? A Clear Guide to Navigating Your Options

From their quiet patience to their lightning-fast strikes, praying mantises are endlessly fascinating. For gardeners, educators, or exotic pet enthusiasts, the desire to have one leads to a very practical question: **where can I buy a praying mantis that is healthy, legal, and appropriate for what I want to do?**

The answer depends entirely on your goal. Buying a mantis for your garden is a completely different process than buying one to keep as a pet. This guide will clearly separate these two paths, providing you with specific, reliable sources for each and outlining the essential steps you must take before making a purchase. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to look and how to prepare.

Path 1: Buying for Garden Release or Pest Control

If your primary goal is to introduce mantises to your yard for natural pest management, you are purchasing an agricultural product. You are typically buying egg cases (oothecae) or cups of live nymphs of common, hardy species like the Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) or European Mantis (Mantis religiosa).

Where to Buy:
- Garden Supply & Biological Control Companies: This is the main commercial channel.
- Arbico Organics
- Nature's Good Guys
- Gardener's Supply Company
- Local Nurseries & Garden Centers: Many physical stores stock oothecae seasonally in the spring.
Important Note: These are non-native species. Releasing them can impact your local ecosystem by outcompeting native mantises and preying on a wide range of insects, including pollinators. For simple observation, keeping them in a secure enclosure is a more controlled option.

Path 2: Buying a Mantis as a Captive Pet

If you want a mantis as a long-term pet or for educational display, you are entering the world of specialized invertebrate keeping. Here, the focus is on captive-bred (CBB) individuals from a wide variety of species.

Source A: Specialized Online Invertebrate Retailers (Easiest & Most Reliable)
This is the recommended starting point for new keepers. These businesses prioritize animal health and customer education.
- Trusted Vendors:
- Mantis Universe
- BugPets.net
- PanTerra Pets
- Josh's Frogs
- The Process: You select a species and life stage (a young nymph, L2-L3, is ideal). The mantis is shipped overnight in a secure, ventilated vial. A live arrival guarantee is essential. This is a professional service, so expect to pay for proper shipping and handling.

Source B: Reptile & Invertebrate Expos (The In-Person Option)

Local expos allow you to see the animal and talk directly to the breeder.

- How to Find Them: Search "[Your State] reptile expo" or "invertebrate show."
- Advantages: You can inspect health, avoid shipping stress, and get immediate advice from the expert who raised it.

Source C: Hobbyist Breeder Communities (For Rare Finds)
For specific or rarer species, the enthusiast community is the place to go.

- Primary Platforms:
- MantidForum.net (Check the "Classifieds" section)
- Facebook Groups (e.g., "Praying Mantis Keepers")
- Due Diligence: When buying from an individual, ask for current photos and details on the mantis's age and feeding. Check the seller's reputation in the group.

Critical Red Flags: What to Avoid

To ensure you get a healthy animal and support ethical practices, steer clear of:

Sellers who:
- Offer wild-caught adults as pets (they are stressed and not adapted to captivity).
- Have prices that seem too good to be true (e.g., $5 for a nymph).
- Cannot detail a professional overnight shipping plan with a live arrival guarantee. Be extremely wary of any offer resembling a free sample packs no shipping cost promotion for live animals.
- Are unable to answer basic questions about the species or its care.

The Most Important Step: Prepare First, Buy Second

Your mantis's home must be 100% ready before it arrives. This is the #1 rule.
1. Enclosure: A tall, ventilated terrarium or mesh cage. It should be at least 3x the mantis's height. Add sticks and leaves for climbing.
2. Environment: Most species need 60-80% humidity (use a mister) and temperatures of 70-85°F (a small heat mat is often needed).
3. Food: You MUST have a live food culture ready. For nymphs, this is flightless fruit flies. For adults, it's houseflies or small crickets.
4. Choose a Beginner Species: Start with a hardy species like the Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) or a Hierodula species.

Your Action Plan

1. Decide: Garden release or pet?
2. Research & Setup (For Pets): Set up the perfect habitat and start your feeder insect culture.
3. Find Your Source: Use the channels listed above based on your goal.
4. Buy & Acclimate: Purchase only when your setup is ready. For shipped mantises, be home to receive them and acclimate gently.

The Takeaway: A Purposeful Purchase

So, where can I buy a praying mantis? You have clear options: garden suppliers for release, or specialized retailers and breeders for pets. The key is to match your source to your goal and, most importantly, to prepare its home in advance. A successful mantis purchase isn't just about finding one for sale; it's about being ready to provide excellent care from the moment it arrives.