EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Mantid Invader

Praying Mantis, European Mantis (Mantis religiosa), Family Mantidae
Oregon, USA

Explanation:   It is a special occasion to find a praying mantis!  Except ... this one does not belong here.  

This is a European mantid, an import.  Not a native.  So what?

So this.  The species is sold and introduced to control insect pests in gardens, which it does well.  The problem is that it is highly carnivorous and does not stop at insects.  

A recent study revealed that praying mantises also prey on ...birds ... including hummingbirds !  

This was documented in 13 countries and on all inhabited continents.  
  

This individual is indeed identified as a European mantis, Mantis religiosa.
A key characteristic is that the wings extend beyond the tip of the
abdomen, as shown here.

 
The species is now widespread in the United States and southwestern Canada.  This particular individual was the first I have seen in my back yard in 30 years.  So either it represents a local range expansion and local population increase, or someone released it for their own insect control.  Either way ... not good.

 The praying mantis has the species name religiosa
because it holds its forelegs as if in prayer.

And those forelegs house some dagger-like spines,
likely used to capture larger prey (such as birds)
and for self-defense.

  
   
Information:
     Nyffeler, M., M. R. Maxwell, and J. V. Remsen. 2017. Bird predation by praying mantises: a global perspective. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129(2):331-344.