Expanding the Range
The European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) is the only mantis endemic to the Czech Republic. Until 2026, it’s range was limited to the South Moravian regions. However, the recent heat waves have seen it dramatically extend its range across the country.
As insects go, it’s one of the “good guys”, so I was happy to see one on my walk this morning.
The Czech Entomological Society named the praying mantis as the country’s Insect of the Year for 2026. You can find out more at this link: https://english.radio.cz/praying-mantis-named-czechias-insect-year-species-spreads-across-country-8889336
Beyond Prague 