Praying mantises spotted in mainland England ‘may have blown over from Europe’
Only a ‘matter of time’ before praying mantises colonise UK, say experts
- Praying mantises have been sighted in the wild in England, specifically in gardens near Truro and Mousehole in Cornwall.
- Experts suggest the insects may have been 'blown over' from mainland Europe, accidentally transported, or are escaped pets.
- While breeding populations exist on the Isle of Wight and in the Channel Islands, these sightings mark their presence in mainland England, following previous reports in Oxford and East London in 2021.
- The European praying mantis, native to southern Europe, is considered a 'climate migrant' moving north, highlighting how insects respond to environmental changes.
- The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes it is only a matter of time before these non-threatening insects, which are about three inches long and eat other insects, colonise mainland Britain.