praying mantids

[jmeier]

Does anyone know what the reproduction habits of praying mantids are? If I get some will they propagate their own population in my yard/garden?

[Tony M]

jmeier-
I have seen praying mantis eggs being deposited. She released some kind of frothy mixture on the leaf. I went back in a few days and it had hardened. That's all I know but I'd like to comment on your question. Almost all backyards can support praying mantis. The variety of plants, food supply, number of predators, etc. will determine how many will stay there and reproduce. As an example, I have bought bullfrog tadpoles, baby frogs and adult ones because I want a resident population of them in my pond. After two years and dozens of releases, I gave up. Something in my backyard was not right for frogs. Toads are a different story, but not frogs.
Hope that helps,
Tony