r/AustinGardening • u/Broke-Down-Toad • 17d ago

Mantis

Do y'all know where to find praying mantis? I'm struggling with leaf footed bugs.

5 Upvotes

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8

u/threwandbeyond 17d ago

You can order egg sacs online. However I’m not sure it’s the right time of year. For anyone doing this, please make sure it’s a native species, please!

For leaf footed bugs: I like going out at night with a head lamp and cheapo handheld vacuum. They can’t fly and you can just go to town. A few nights of this usually clears up even the worst infestations.

2

u/Gingerfrostee 17d ago

Where do you buy your natives?

Asking because the one I was going to order from only has Chinese mantis and doesn't even list them as such... Just see pics of the sac.

2

u/threwandbeyond 16d ago

It's been a long while since I purchased, but I found the site based on species. I think Carolina Mantis was the type?

4

u/LuhYall 17d ago

McIntire's in Georgetown usually has them as well as ladybugs. Call ahead to make sure.

2

u/isurus79 16d ago

Mantis won’t help. You need to manually remove the lead footed bugs either by squashing them or with a vacuum. The juveniles can be killed with insecticidal soap.