The Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) is common in Ohio and much of the United States. It is one of the largest of the mantids in North America - up to about 6"! Many companies sell the Chinese Mantids' egg cases for garden biological control. We recommend against this for two reasons: 1- if you don't get something from your yard, you shouldn't put it in your yard (it's not nice to fool Mother Nature!), and 2- as territorial predators, the first thing the hatchlings do is disperse - in other words, they leave your garden! We think it's a big rip off. But if you find one of these bugs around your house, they are great to have visit for a while!
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