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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper June 2015 Page 35
Christine Schoene Maccabee
putting their egg cases under Courtesy Photo
foot in the fall and winter as a
On The Wild Side many ways to control them,
means of control. So, there are
though there will always be
more than enough of them—
native and non-native—living
out in the wild areas...just not
in my butterfly gardens!
“ Food sources: Diurnal (daytime) insects, including caterpillars, out of necessity, will usually
The human gardener,
— Audubon Guide to North American Insects and Spiders “
flies, butterflies, bees, and some moths.
intervene in order to have
the desired results. We are as
much a part of nature as all
the other creatures on this
The Praying Mantis: Friend or Foe? earth. Sometimes it can feel
like an eat or be eaten life we
Have you ever seen a butterfly’s your mantis population, as you live, kill or be killed. If it isn’t
a rabbit destroying your kale
wings, mysteriously minus its body, will not be fined, and they have and cabbage (remember the story
on the ground beneath your favorite few predators. Smaller birds tend of Peter Rabbit?) or the beetles I spot an endangered blue butterfly.
flowers? Did you ever wonder to avoid trying to eat them due to ruining your squash and green However, I will be quick as anything
how and why they got there? The the painful pinching of their strong beans, then it is the mantis eating to grab my mantis catcher container
answer to this mystery is a very forelegs. I rest my case... your bees and butterflies. The ways if I see a “preying” mantis laying in
unexpected one—at least it was for Like most well-meaning people, I of nature, though fascinating, are as wait on the branch of my butterfly
me. It is more than likely the work thought the mantis was an important confounding as they are frustrating. bush or silently stalking anything
of a praying mantis (or “preying” insect to have in my gardens to We could therefore spend all of our that moves among the lilies and
mantis as I call them), that seem to control garden pests. Thus, when time controlling, and spend no time sweet peas.
prefer the soft buttery bodies of our I moved out here twenty-six years simply appreciating. Then I can go back to enjoying
precious swallowtails and monarchs, ago, I went out of my way to save So, I do what I can, and then let the beauty and mystery all around
not to mention invaluable bees. mantis egg cases before the field was the rest go. I will try every day to me, knowing that I have done
The first time I saw a butterfly mowed in the fall; I positioned those sit on my deck and enjoy the indigo my little part in the scheme of
in the clutches of a mantis, I was egg cases in various parts of the bunting in my old cherry tree, be things, and relax in the reality of
shocked. Within seconds he/she ate vegetable garden and berry bushes. thrilled when I see my first yellow or my inability to control everything.
the entire body from top to bottom, Sadly, I discovered the next year that black swallowtail, and rejoice when Enjoy creation!
allowing the wings to float gently to the mantis is all too frequently foe
the ground. From that moment on, rather than friend. That summer,
I realized that I could not tolerate I found about fifty pairs of wings
mantis in my flower gardens, which under the butterfly bush and other
I had begun as habitat for bees and flowers. Also, rather than eating
butterflies. I also witnessed a mantis the bean beetles on my pole beans
nonchalantly eating a honey bee one where I would transport any mantis
day; not a pleasant sight either, as I found, they would fly back over to
honey bees are becoming more rare the butterfly bush and begin stalking
lately. butterflies again. At that point I
I know there are a lot of mantis knew I had to take drastic action. I
lovers out there. Years ago, I lost a knew the war was on!
potential boyfriend because of our Let me say that I would never
difference in opinion about them, advocate killing praying mantis,
though he did not give me a chance but I thought I would share some
to plead my case (his loss). So, information with you that you may
before I make any enemies in my find useful in your pursuit of “mantis
readership, here are a few facts that management.” Most people are not
you may not know. open to ridding their gardens of
There are three types of mantis in the “fascinating” mantis, but why
our country. One is a native, and the invite butterflies and bees into your
others were brought here—mostly beautiful gardens if it is only a death
accidentally—from Europe and trap? For me, a choice had be made,
China (the Chinese one is found and so I made mine.
mostly in Maryland and Delaware). I have a “largish” plastic
There is actually an overpopulation container with a lid and a handle, so
of mantis in our country due to this when I see a mantis I simply knock it
problem. Also, according to the into the container. Sometimes I might
artist-naturalist John Quinn, who have several in there before the
has written nine books on nature day is through. If I happen to have
and science, a rumor was started garden gloves, I will also grab one by
back in the 1940s that one could be hand. Then, I either throw them into
fined $50.00 if caught squashing a the chickens to eat (a great source of
mantis. Mr. Quinn suggests that how protein for chickens) or take them
this myth got started and continued down the road that night or the next
on for so long “is a mystery even to day and drop them off in a wooded
folklorists.” So feel free to reduce area. I also have no qualms about
Christine Schoene Maccabee
putting their egg cases under Courtesy Photo
foot in the fall and winter as a
On The Wild Side many ways to control them,
means of control. So, there are
though there will always be
more than enough of them—
native and non-native—living
out in the wild areas...just not
in my butterfly gardens!
“ Food sources: Diurnal (daytime) insects, including caterpillars, out of necessity, will usually
The human gardener,
— Audubon Guide to North American Insects and Spiders “
flies, butterflies, bees, and some moths.
intervene in order to have
the desired results. We are as
much a part of nature as all
the other creatures on this
The Praying Mantis: Friend or Foe? earth. Sometimes it can feel
like an eat or be eaten life we
Have you ever seen a butterfly’s your mantis population, as you live, kill or be killed. If it isn’t
a rabbit destroying your kale
wings, mysteriously minus its body, will not be fined, and they have and cabbage (remember the story
on the ground beneath your favorite few predators. Smaller birds tend of Peter Rabbit?) or the beetles I spot an endangered blue butterfly.
flowers? Did you ever wonder to avoid trying to eat them due to ruining your squash and green However, I will be quick as anything
how and why they got there? The the painful pinching of their strong beans, then it is the mantis eating to grab my mantis catcher container
answer to this mystery is a very forelegs. I rest my case... your bees and butterflies. The ways if I see a “preying” mantis laying in
unexpected one—at least it was for Like most well-meaning people, I of nature, though fascinating, are as wait on the branch of my butterfly
me. It is more than likely the work thought the mantis was an important confounding as they are frustrating. bush or silently stalking anything
of a praying mantis (or “preying” insect to have in my gardens to We could therefore spend all of our that moves among the lilies and
mantis as I call them), that seem to control garden pests. Thus, when time controlling, and spend no time sweet peas.
prefer the soft buttery bodies of our I moved out here twenty-six years simply appreciating. Then I can go back to enjoying
precious swallowtails and monarchs, ago, I went out of my way to save So, I do what I can, and then let the beauty and mystery all around
not to mention invaluable bees. mantis egg cases before the field was the rest go. I will try every day to me, knowing that I have done
The first time I saw a butterfly mowed in the fall; I positioned those sit on my deck and enjoy the indigo my little part in the scheme of
in the clutches of a mantis, I was egg cases in various parts of the bunting in my old cherry tree, be things, and relax in the reality of
shocked. Within seconds he/she ate vegetable garden and berry bushes. thrilled when I see my first yellow or my inability to control everything.
the entire body from top to bottom, Sadly, I discovered the next year that black swallowtail, and rejoice when Enjoy creation!
allowing the wings to float gently to the mantis is all too frequently foe
the ground. From that moment on, rather than friend. That summer,
I realized that I could not tolerate I found about fifty pairs of wings
mantis in my flower gardens, which under the butterfly bush and other
I had begun as habitat for bees and flowers. Also, rather than eating
butterflies. I also witnessed a mantis the bean beetles on my pole beans
nonchalantly eating a honey bee one where I would transport any mantis
day; not a pleasant sight either, as I found, they would fly back over to
honey bees are becoming more rare the butterfly bush and begin stalking
lately. butterflies again. At that point I
I know there are a lot of mantis knew I had to take drastic action. I
lovers out there. Years ago, I lost a knew the war was on!
potential boyfriend because of our Let me say that I would never
difference in opinion about them, advocate killing praying mantis,
though he did not give me a chance but I thought I would share some
to plead my case (his loss). So, information with you that you may
before I make any enemies in my find useful in your pursuit of “mantis
readership, here are a few facts that management.” Most people are not
you may not know. open to ridding their gardens of
There are three types of mantis in the “fascinating” mantis, but why
our country. One is a native, and the invite butterflies and bees into your
others were brought here—mostly beautiful gardens if it is only a death
accidentally—from Europe and trap? For me, a choice had be made,
China (the Chinese one is found and so I made mine.
mostly in Maryland and Delaware). I have a “largish” plastic
There is actually an overpopulation container with a lid and a handle, so
of mantis in our country due to this when I see a mantis I simply knock it
problem. Also, according to the into the container. Sometimes I might
artist-naturalist John Quinn, who have several in there before the
has written nine books on nature day is through. If I happen to have
and science, a rumor was started garden gloves, I will also grab one by
back in the 1940s that one could be hand. Then, I either throw them into
fined $50.00 if caught squashing a the chickens to eat (a great source of
mantis. Mr. Quinn suggests that how protein for chickens) or take them
this myth got started and continued down the road that night or the next
on for so long “is a mystery even to day and drop them off in a wooded
folklorists.” So feel free to reduce area. I also have no qualms about
