True or False: It's Illegal to Kill a Praying Mantis
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Praying mantis eating aphids. Photo © Debbie Hadley, WILD Jersey
Common knowledge, right? It's illegal to kill a praying mantis. Turns out that's an urban legend and completely false. It has never been illegal to kill a praying mantis in any U.S. state, nor is there any federal protection for mantids. No species of mantid is listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. There are no fines for killing them.
That said, why would you want to harm one of these fascinating insects? Many gardeners consider them a beneficial insect, since they consume many of the pests afflicting our veggies. Two mantids are listed as official state insects: the European mantis in Connecticut, and the Carolina mantis in South Carolina.
Comments
Great picture of a mantis! Let people think it’s illegal.
deb-
my father told me this when I was a boy. I suspect his father told him the same thing. this is probably the most useful ‘false’ rumor out there. let’s keep it going. : )