Overview

• Cornwall Wildlife Trust verified two European praying mantises in gardens near Truro and Mousehole.
• The records do not confirm a breeding population in Cornwall at this time.
• Possible arrival routes include strong winds from mainland Europe, accidental transport in luggage, or escape from captivity.
• Breeding populations are established on the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, with isolated English records noted in 2021 in Oxford and Stratford.
• The Royal Entomological Society cites climate and land‑use change as likely drivers of movement and asks citizen scientists to submit sightings via platforms such as iNaturalist.