Praying mantises ‘may have blown over from Europe’

Praying mantises have been spotted in the wild in England, with experts suggesting they may have been “blown over” from mainland Europe.

- TOM WATLING

The stick insects were identified in gardens near Truro and Mousehole in Cornwall, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT). The charity said the insects could have been brought to Cornwall by strong winds, or been transported accidentally to the UK in someone's luggage.

They added it is also possible that the insects are from a pet collection, though that is unlikely given that they were spotted in different locations and nobody has claimed them. There are breeding populations of praying mantis on the Isle of Wight and in the Channel Islands, but not in mainland England.