Is It Illegal to Kill a Praying Mantis? The Truth About the $50 Fine Myth
Here’s a question that has haunted children and gardeners for generations: if you accidentally step on a praying mantis, will the police show up at your door? Will you face a hefty fine? Will federal marshals drag you away in handcuffs while an angry mob screams “MANTIS KILLER!!”? The answer reveals one of the most persistent and widely believed urban legends in the insect world . The myth that killing a praying mantis is illegal, punishable by a $50 fine, has been floating around since the 1950s, passed down from grandparents to parents to children like a bizarre family heirloom . But like swallowing gum and it staying in your stomach for seven years, this one is completely false.
The praying mantis has somehow achieved legendary status as an “unofficial protected species,” a creature so important that harming it supposedly carries legal consequences . There’s something about these insects that just makes them feel important. They stand there like tiny security guards, snatching mosquitoes like it’s nothing, and then slowly turn their heads like they’re silently asking, “You sure about that outfit?” . They feel too powerful to harm. Somewhere along the way, “don’t mess with them” turned into “you legally can’t mess with them.” For those fascinated by these remarkable creatures and their role in our gardens, resources like free sample packs offer ways to support them without relying on legal myths.
The Short Answer: No, It's Not Illegal
Let's address the core question directly: there is no federal or state law in the United States that specifically prohibits killing praying mantises .
Key facts about the “mantis law” myth:
- No specific protection: Despite decades of belief, no law anywhere in the US makes it a crime to kill a praying mantis
- The $50 fine is fictional: The specific $50 penalty often cited in the myth has no basis in any actual statute
- Not an endangered species: Most North American mantis species are not endangered, which would be the only scenario where killing them might carry legal consequences
- State insect status doesn't confer protection: Even though the European mantis is the official state insect of Connecticut, the state's statutes do not grant it any special protected status
This combination of factors means that you won't face legal consequences for killing a mantis. The “Praying Mantis Police Department” does not exist, and no one is getting cuffed over a bug .
Where Did This Myth Come From?
The origin of this incredibly persistent belief remains mysterious, but researchers have some theories.
A 1950s Mystery
The myth has been circulating since at least the 1950s, but no one knows exactly where it started . It spread through word of mouth, passed from generation to generation like many urban legends. The specific detail of a $50 fine added credibility—surely no one would make up such a specific penalty?
The “Praying” Connection
One theory suggests the myth gained traction because mantises appear to be praying . Their folded front legs and solemn posture evoke religious reverence. People may have literally thought it a crime to kill something that seemed to be in communion with the divine. The idea of harming a “praying” creature felt inherently wrong, and this moral intuition transformed into a belief about legal prohibition.
Beneficial Insect Status
Mantises are undeniably beneficial in gardens, consuming vast quantities of pest insects . Organizations like the USDA list them as beneficial insects . Gardeners and agricultural extension services have long encouraged people to protect them. This encouragement may have been misinterpreted over time as a legal requirement rather than a recommendation.
The Power of Folklore
As one Montana radio station recently noted, some myths travel farther than any official law ever could . The mantis myth somehow made it across America, untouched by time or geography. Nobody remembers where it came from. No one recalls a teacher saying it. It definitely wasn’t printed in any field guide. But ask around—everyone has heard it .
What About Endangered Species?
While common mantis species aren't protected, the situation differs for rare species.
North American Mantids
Contrary to popular belief, most North American mantids are not included among endangered species . About 20 mantis species are native to the USA, and two introduced species (Chinese mantis and European mantis) were deliberately brought here for pest control . None of these enjoy special legal protection.
Global Perspective
However, mantis species in other parts of the world are under threat from habitat destruction . In Germany, for example, the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is listed as Gefährdet (endangered) on the German Red List based on a 1998 assessment, and it is not supposed to be caught or held as a pet . At a global level, though, the IUCN assesses it as “least concern” .
Non-Native Species Restrictions
While killing common mantises isn't illegal, possessing certain non-native mantis species may be restricted. Under the Non-Native Invasive Species Act of 1992, some exotic mantids like the spiny flower mantis, orchid mantis, ghost mantis, and devil's flower mantis are illegal to possess and release in the United States . These restrictions apply to live possession and transport, not to killing insects already in the wild.
Could Animal Cruelty Laws Apply?
This is where the legal picture gets slightly more complex, at least theoretically.
State Definitions of “Animal”
Some state animal cruelty laws explicitly exclude all invertebrates or all insects from their definition of “animal,” meaning they don't apply to mantises at all . For example:
- Alaska statutes explicitly exclude invertebrates
- New Mexico statutes explicitly exclude insects
However, some states define “animal” more broadly:
- New Jersey's definition includes “the whole brute creation”
- Minnesota's definition includes “every living creature except members of the human race”
In jurisdictions where insects are technically covered by animal cruelty statutes, the needless, intentional killing of an insect could theoretically be illegal and might carry a fine or even imprisonment .
The Practical Reality
Here's the crucial caveat: whether charges are filed and cases are actually prosecuted is a separate issue entirely . Researchers have been unable to locate a single animal cruelty case involving a praying mantis or any insect in any jurisdiction . The practical likelihood of facing legal consequences for killing a mantis is effectively zero.
The Moral Question: Just Because You Can, Should You?
Legal questions aside, there's the ethical dimension of killing mantises.
Beneficial Garden Allies
Praying mantises are genuinely valuable creatures in gardens and ecosystems. They eat enormous numbers of pest insects including aphids, caterpillars, grasshoppers, flies, and mosquitoes . From a purely practical standpoint, they're worth keeping around.
Intrinsic Value
From an animal welfare or animal rights viewpoint, the current status of laws is irrelevant to whether it's wrong to kill a mantis or any other insect harmless to humans . As one animal rights attorney put it, killing an animal for no reason cannot be morally acceptable, completely separate from whether an animal is endangered or “beneficial” to humans .
What Experts Say
Entomologists and gardening experts consistently advise leaving mantises alone, not because of legal consequences, but because they're helpful creatures. Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day notes that mantises are “a true gardeners' pal,” eating aphids, beetles, and caterpillars when young . Terminix, despite being a pest control company, acknowledges that mantises are “helpful pest control and should be treated with respect” .
The Connecticut Connection: State Insect Status
One fact that may contribute to the myth's persistence is that the European mantis is the official state insect of Connecticut .
However, being a state insect doesn't confer legal protection. Many states have official insects, but these designations are symbolic rather than regulatory. As the Wikipedia editors noted when correcting this misconception, “the General Statutes of Connecticut do not list any special protected status” for the mantis .
The state insect designation simply recognizes the mantis as symbolically important to Connecticut, not as a legally protected species.
Common Myths vs. Facts About Mantis Legality
Let's separate the enduring fiction from reality.
Myth: Killing a praying mantis carries a $50 fine
Fact: There is no law establishing any such fine. This specific number appears to be pure fabrication .
Myth: Mantises are federally protected
Fact: No federal law protects praying mantises. They are not listed under the Endangered Species Act or any other federal wildlife protection law .
Myth: Mantises are protected because they're endangered
Fact: Most North American mantis species are not endangered. While some species globally face threats, common garden mantises are abundant .
Myth: It's illegal to kill mantises in all 50 states
Fact: No state has a law specifically prohibiting mantis killing. Some states' animal cruelty laws could theoretically apply, but prosecutions for insect killing are nonexistent .
Myth: The police will come if you kill a mantis
Fact: Law enforcement has never and will never respond to a mantis-killing call. As one writer humorously noted, there's no “sheriff's department bug enforcement unit” .
Myth: Mantises are protected because they're the state insect of Connecticut
Fact: State insect status is symbolic only. Connecticut's statutes grant mantises no special legal protection .
Myth: You need a permit to handle or move mantises
Fact: No permits are required for interacting with common mantis species in North America .
What About Other Insect Myths?
The mantis myth is just one of many persistent insect-related beliefs.
Other Common Insect Superstitions :
- Daddy long legs are the most poisonous spiders but can't bite (false—they're not spiders and have no poison)
- Earwigs crawl into ears and eat brains (completely false)
- You swallow 8 spiders per year while sleeping (internet rumor, not true)
- Crane flies (mosquito hawks) eat mosquitoes (sadly false—they don't eat as adults)
- It's good luck to have a cricket in your house (depends on your tolerance for chirping)
Like the mantis myth, these beliefs persist because they're memorable, slightly frightening, and passed down without question.
Conclusion: Respect, Not Legal Fear
So, is it illegal to kill a praying mantis? The evidence is overwhelming and clear: no, there is no law specifically prohibiting the killing of praying mantises in the United States. The $50 fine is pure fiction, the “Praying Mantis Police” don't exist, and you won't face legal consequences for harming one .
But the absence of legal prohibition doesn't mean we should go around squashing these remarkable creatures. Mantises are:
- Beneficial garden allies that consume vast quantities of pest insects
- Fascinating creatures with 400 million years of evolutionary history
- Harmless to humans despite their fearsome appearance
- Indicators of healthy ecosystems that support diverse insect life
The appropriate response to mantises is respect, not fear of legal consequences. Respect for their role as predators in gardens. Respect for their ancient lineage. Respect for them as living creatures that deserve to go about their lives without unnecessary harm .
The next time you see a praying mantis watching you from a garden plant, remember: you won't go to jail for harming it, but you also have no good reason to. It's simply doing what mantises have done for hundreds of millions of years—patiently observing, waiting for prey, and adding a touch of wonder to your garden. Return its gaze with curiosity, not concern, and appreciate the remarkable creature before you.
In a world full of genuinely illegal actions, the praying mantis stands out as a victim of one of history's most persistent and harmless myths. The only thing illegal about them is the rumor itself.