Praying mantises reach the Krkonoše Mountains: national park asks hikers to report sightings

The Krkonoše National Park (KRNAP) administration has reported an increasing number of sightings of the European mantis — a predatory insect once found almost exclusively in Czechia's warmer lowland regions. Park officials are now asking hikers and locals to help track this unusual newcomer to the mountains.

The European mantis is easily recognised by its elongated body, triangular head and large eyes. Its Czech name — "praying mantis" — comes from its distinctive posture: the insect typically holds its front legs folded in front of its body, as if in prayer.

An insect on the move northward

According to park officials, the mantis's habitat has been gradually shifting northward and into higher-altitude areas over the past few decades. Just a few years ago, spotting one in the Krkonoše Mountains would have been almost unheard of.

"As the mountains grow warmer, encountering a mantis in the Krkonoše is becoming a rare but genuinely possible event," said Petr Moravec, director of the park administration. He noted that for researchers, such sightings offer valuable insight into shifting species distribution and how the region's ecosystem is responding to climate change.

Moravec added that several mantis sightings have already been reported in the park this year. The administration is now compiling seasonal observation data and hopes to gather even more information.

How to report a sighting

Park officials are asking anyone who spots a mantis while hiking in the Krkonoše Mountains to email [email protected]. If possible, include a photo of the insect along with the exact location and date of the sighting.

The park stresses that every report matters: the data helps experts understand exactly where mantises are appearing in the Krkonoše Mountains and whether these are isolated, chance encounters or signs that the species is gradually establishing itself in the region on a more permanent basis.

Source: ekolist.cz