THE first version of a map showing where the European praying mantis has been spotted in the Island has been released…
Sangan Island Conservation has been collecting the data since the start of August to help track how Jersey’s environment and ecology is changing, and will submit it to the Jersey Biodiversity Centre at the end of the year.
Piers Sangan, the founder of Sangan Island Conservation, said they had been documenting sightings after the species – which is commonly found in France – appeared to be moving north due to climate change.
‘It’s interesting, and there is a pattern on the south-east coast, which is to be expected if they are coming across from France,’ he said.
‘At present we don’t think they are breeding but that will be the next thing we ask people to keep an eye out for.’
Mr Sangan added that the European praying mantis, which eats a variety of insects such as crickets and flies, was not a threat to humans.
‘As a species they should just fit in with our ecosystem and on paper there isn’t a perceived negative impact from their arrival,’ he said.
