My New Friend

Hey everyone! so i found a new friend his name is yet to be decided but he has made his home near my plants and i found him on patrol today

he was about 6" long, I've never seen a parying mantis in Ontario the 54 years I've been here, seen a few stick bugs but that's about it.
Question One do praying mantis's hurt your plants? I wouldn't figure so seeing as they are carnivorous, but Confirmation is key.
Question two do they hang around for long periods of time, can i look forward to him warding off all other bugs on my plants? will he be here long enough for me to give him a suitable name?
Question Three (only if question two is answered no) how can i keep this fella around if he isn't a stationary predator

I dont think they hurt your plants. Judging by his size he looks well fed. I'm getting one for my garden.

He is great for your garden- he does good exterminator work for cheap and won't go rat out your grow space. He likes to munch on the little critters that like to munch on your little ladies. If you want to keep him where he is, get him some food. Not french fries and gravy, but flies, bees wasps, roaches, grasshoppers, etc. If he has plenty to eat, he won't want to leave.

HomeGrown&Smoked said:

He is great for your garden- he does good exterminator work for cheap and won't go rat out your grow space. He likes to munch on the little critters that like to munch on your little ladies. If you want to keep him where he is, get him some food. Not french fries and gravy, but flies, bees wasps, roaches, grasshoppers, etc. If he has plenty to eat, he won't want to leave.

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So ,if I throw him in my tent with some crickets, he'll eat the crickets, these goddam gnats and look awesome all at the same time? Brutal! Im assuming ventilation could pose a threat to him?

I guess as long as the exhaust fan is well above the plants and has a small screen it should keep him from getting diced. He will eat the bugs and their eggs, so you might wanns wait a couple of days before you throw the crickets in.

I had one in my basement on my grow and a fucking spider got him... sad face

HomeGrown&Smoked said:

I guess as long as the exhaust fan is well above the plants and has a small screen it should keep him from getting diced. He will eat the bugs and their eggs, so you might wanns wait a couple of days before you throw the crickets in.

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Shit yeah. Im gonna try to get one today. Hopefully hell eat fungus gnats. Are they sold in pet stores?