Britain braced for invasion of creepy cannibal praying mantis
BRITAIN is bracing itself for a praying mantis invasion.
The insects, commonly found in France, have already been tracked to the Channel Islands.
Record numbers of them have been recorded on the south east coast of Jersey.
Experts say they are moving further North as our climate warms up.
Praying mantis can grow up to 30cm in length and females are known to eat males after sex.
They also eat flies and crickets.
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Jersey’s Sangan Island Conservation said: “We don’t think they are breeding but that will be the next thing we ask people to keep an eye out for.
“As a species they should just fit in with our ecosystem and on paper there isn’t a perceived negative impact from their arrival.”
Last year a European praying mantis was caught in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks.