Mantis religiosa spreads across Germany as climate warms

The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is expanding its range in Germany, a shift attributed to hotter summers and milder springs linked to climate change. In Baden‑Württemberg, observations rose from 30 in the previous year to 682 by early August, with the region’s wine‑growing valleys along the Rhine and Neckar seeing the highest numbers. Nationwide, more than 2,000 sightings were reported in the last week of July, a multiple‑fold increase over previous years.

In Berlin, the insect now occurs in every district, according to Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) experts Janina Klug and Martin Klatt. The surge is linked to heatwaves, and the mantis is frequently found on vacant lots, rubble, and even inside homes. Genetic analysis shows that eastern German populations originated from migrations out of the Czech Republic and Poland. NABU urges the public to photograph and report sightings to track the species’ spread as it enters its breeding season.