Praying mantis usually inhabit outdoor areas, particularly gardens, because they prefer to live on the plants. Dense vegetation provides a hiding spot for these insects to avoid predator detection. They also move to indoor areas when the external environment is not favorable for their survival.
Can a Praying Mantis Live in a House? Praying mantis can live in a house if the environment is humid, warm, and safe. They also stay indoors if they find plenty of insects and plants to feed and live. People keep them as pets and put them in fish tanks or containers for an entire lifespan. Moreover, their lifespan increases in captivity as they get ideal living conditions.
It is common to see praying mantis on the door, but sometimes, they move inside the building when they need something from indoor areas. It is more likely to see them inside the home when the season changes from fall to winter. Moreover, some nymphs also appear indoors if the female mantis lays eggs in the small gaps within walls and other areas.
Why do praying mantis live in a house?
Praying mantis move inside the house when they feel the indoor environment suits their survival. Other reasons, like availability of insects, humidity, warmth, etc., are also responsible for entries.
Availability of insects
One of the most common reasons for the presence of praying mantis in the house is the availability of food within the home. They begin to live there if a constant food source is available.
A small opening or an open door provides an entry route to reach indoor areas. They stay there until tiny insects and arthropods are available for nutrition.
Many small creatures, like cockroaches, ants, earwigs, silverfish, aphids, mites, and mealybugs, live inside buildings. They get attracted to mosquitoes or flies and efficiently overpower them.
In addition, house lizards are also enticing for these carnivorous insects as they like to feed on living creatures.
Humid environment
An indoor environment is ideal for the praying mantis because people maintain humidity. They need 40% to 60% humidity to survive and avoid dehydration.
They live inside the house when they find a moist environment; otherwise, they quickly move to humid locations to ensure survival.
So, you have to maintain an ideal humidity level if you want to keep these insects in your house because they are supposed to be a sign of good luck.
Safe spots
They usually live outdoors and commonly inhabit gardens but prefer to move to safe locations when there is a significant risk of predators in their habitat.
Accordingly, they look for nearby places and get inside the building if they find small spaces in the walls. Some house plants also provide them with safe shelter to prevent attacks.
Warm condition
Praying mantis suffer a lot during winter because they cannot resist health complications when the external temperature is nearly freezing.
Accordingly, they look for warm spots in the buildings to avoid freezing because extremely low temperatures cause the death of these ectothermic creatures.
Fireplaces keep houses warm in winter and make indoor areas attractive for the mantis suffering from cold. So, they try to find a way to get inside and live indoors.
Pet insects
They can live in the house as pet insects because they look like fascinating creatures to people. So, it gives rise to an urge to keep them as pets and explore their behavior.
They are known to live in captivity and complete their lifespan within the cage. You have to feed them properly and keep their cages moist to make the environment favorable for their survival.
Indoor plants
The presence of indoor plants grabs their attention because they consider plants as shelter. They begin to visit indoor plantations frequently and start to live inside the home sometimes.
The prayer plants, ferns, parlor palms, polka dot plants, and kalanchoe are common houseplants that can grab the attention of mantis.
How do praying mantis live inside the house?
Praying mantis are common garden insects because they usually live on plants and vegetation. In addition, they feed on garden pests and replenish their energy reserves used for hunting.
However, they can get inside the house when they find an indoor environment good for survival. An open window provides an entry route to reach indoor areas.
They do not leave the house and begin to live there if conditions are favorable for their survival. They can live independently by hiding under the bed or behind the thick curtains.
In addition, some seek shelter in the indoor plants and other hidden spaces inside the house. A few people also keep them as pets and put them in an enclosed cage.
They can also be kept inside the fish tank and other glass or plastic containers when their size is appropriate for the insect’s survival. You have to create an ideal environment to ensure survival.
In the same way, they manage to live inside by seeking moist places to hydrate their bodies. They also look for indoor insects to meet the nutritional requirements of the body.
Accordingly, they can easily find food and shelter in the house and live there safely. There are many hidden spots to avoid predators and keep themselves warm during winter.
How do you keep praying mantis indoors?
It is better to take an adult praying mantis in the house before winter because most die in a cold environment. A warm shelter and food availability can save their lives.
So, you can keep them indoors, but you should know their requirements for habitat and food. I brought an adult mantis indoors last year when the winter season was about to start.
I kept them inside an enclosed glass container to avoid escapes because they were small enough to be found inside the house. So, I covered the top of the container with a mesh to keep them in one place.
One of my friends used a fish tank to keep them, which was also a good option, so it depends on the availability of options and your choice.
You should add some plants to provide hiding spots, as these are stealthy predators and like to move on different branches or leaves of plants.
Accordingly, they feel happy in the vegetation as it feels like home. In addition, they maintain an ideal temperature and humidity level to ensure their survival.
It is better to separate the nymphs when they emerge from the egg sac. However, you can keep them together until 2 to 3 molts, but do not forget to separate them.
Furthermore, they are cannibalistic organisms and begin to eat each other when no other food source is available in captivity.
How long can a praying mantis live inside?
The lifespan of praying mantis increases when they live indoors because they have to deal with several challenges outdoors.
Moreover, they can live in a house for almost 1.5 to 2 years when kept inside a cage, but their lifespan is only 4 to 6 months when living outdoors or in the garden and forests.
However, the adult mantis cannot live longer when you bring them inside a home after she lays eggs. They can only live for a few months because their lifespan is short.
You can only ensure their survival from cold winter by providing warmth, but they ultimately have to die of old age. Some people also get egg sacs, which provide them warmth for nymph hatching.
This new generation of nymphs completes its lifecycle within a controlled environment when kept within the cage inside the house. They live a healthy lifestyle and survive longer than their parents.
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