Pest Control for indoor and greenhouse grow rooms. Recent study News Update

These days finding natural and safe methods to control insects for growing herbs including cannabis and vegetables indoors and in tents and greenhouses is challenging. Praying mantids are insectivores.

One of the best solutions for pest control is by using insectivores and the praying mantis is an aggressive and hearty choices. They will devoir pests of all sizes, stages and species.

• Here is a list of pests praying mantis will feast on.
•  Aphids
• Barnacles / Scale Insects
• Broad Mites
• Caterpillars & Inchworms
• Crickets
• Fungus Gnats
• Grasshoppers
• Leafhoppers
• Leaf Miners
• Mealybugs
• Planthoppers
• Russet Mites
• Slugs / Snails
• Spider Mites
• Stink Bugs
• Thrips
• Whiteflies / White fly

 We recommend using native mantis species found here in the USA. They have existed here for hundreds of years and The ooth (egg Case) hatches up to 200 nymphs. The mantis are also prey an abundant food source for other animals.

As with many of nature's predators, hunters often become the hunted. The mantid's natural enemies include birds, bats, spiders, snakes, and lizards. While lizards, snakes and scorpions will often eat small mantids, they often steer clear of the swift spiky forelegs and ruthless fighting tactics of the praying mantis. Frogs are another natural enemy who can kill or be killed, according to relative size.

There is much talk about some species being invasive, eating small animals like small fish, garden snakes and tiny birds. Though there are incidents of these being reported, the facts are that they are mostly beneficial to wildlife. 

When properly applied, hatching mantis ooths can coincide and grow with your crop. Controlling even the smallest pests such as white flies, gnats and aphids as well as devouring large pests such as grasshoppers, crickets and caterpillars.

Mantids are insectivores and will aggressively hunt prey. They are cannibalistic though normally when mating as breeding adults. We keep hundreds of growing mantis nymphs together with minimal loss due to cannibalism. They most definitely choose to eat more defenseless insects as a regular diet.  

 See here our recommended mantis species most useful for protecting your crops here in the U.S.A. 

1. Tenodera sinesis- Here you can read and purchase ooths wholesale in bulk quantities

2. Tenodera augustipennis- Narrow wing mantis

3. Mantis religiosa- European mantis
4. Stagmomantis carolina

 I have studied mantids and horticulture for many years, working with entomologists, colleagues, and students specializing in this field. I can guide you through the process of effectively protecting your plants using mantids. Depending on your needs can be available for consultation on site to evaluate the most effective results.

Craig Baker

I can be contacted here via email 

There is one solution I've learned of through research that is the best solution for pest control the perfect defense a natural predator called P. paradoxa. Unfortunately most species will hunt and kill cannibalize other mantids including their own nymphs. These are not a viable option as they are a tropical species.

P paradoxa are one of the few communal mantis species which not cannibalize their own.  Once you have an established community of these mantids you will benefit from their voracious appetite for: Ants Aphids Caterpillars Cutworms Crickets and grasshoppers Deer Fungus gnats Leaf miners Mealy bugs Spider mites Thrips Whiteflies Marijuana or greenhouse gardener pests or bugs are things every grower will encounter and has to control and identify. 

P. paradoxa are a relatively docile species known for "Stealth" method of hunting. Sometime called "Ghosts" as they are masters of camouflage and  easily mistaken by other insects as part of the plant. Normally they will hang from a branch perfectly still foraging on pest insects which may be traveling on the stems of the plants or flying near the praying mantis. They are masters of deception and calculating every move they make to have the most advantageous position to attack.  They are unusually clever as when they do move towards a new location or while hunting they will sway as if they are just a leaf moving in the breeze.

They are hearty and breed easily though they are not to be released into the environment as they are not an indigenous species. We do not condone nor promote any illegal use of these products and offer this information as cited in a study by recent entomologist scientific research. P paradoxa are non native to the USA so may not be legal to use in your territory and you may want to check local laws for compliance.

 Scientists might be able to draw from new sources of cannabis pest control for medical marijuana. We are hoping this will one day be approved USDA for use here in the USA. Great for control of plant lice, aphids, white flies, beetles, grasshoppers. spider mites, black flies or the occasional caterpillar. They are really wondrous creatures and give hours of enjoyment watching their antics as they devour the mean pests that infest your pot plants or garden as a whole.