[REVISION HISTORY]

European mantis range expansion in Germany and Netherlands

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2026-08-23 05:36 UTC → 2026-08-23 06:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is expanding its range across Germany and into neighboring regions, a phenomenon attributed to climate change, specifically hotter summers and milder springs. Initial reports highlighted a significant surge in sightings, particularly in Baden-Württemberg, where observations rose from 30 in the previous year to 682 by early August. In Berlin, the insect has been recorded in every district. Genetic analysis indicates that eastern German populations migrated from the Czech Republic and Poland. As the species continues its northward migration, recent sightings have been confirmed in Wolfsburg. Experts from the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) note that while the mantis is typically found in warmer southern European countries like France, Spain, and Italy, it is now colonizing new territories at an unprecedented speed. By late August, the scale of the expansion became even more apparent. NABU reported that more than 15,000 sightings were recorded via a citizen science portal since the beginning of July, a figure that already exceeds the total number of reports from the entire previous year. The insect is now frequently observed along the Rhine, in Thuringia, near Lausitz, and in Berlin. This expansion has now extended into the Netherlands, with sightings in provinces such as Brabant confirming the establishment of the Mantodea order within the country. NABU expert Helge May attributes this sudden spread to climate change, noting that warmer temperatures provide the necessary heat for the females’ egg packets to develop. While the mantis is a predator and exhibits cannibalistic mating behavior, it poses no threat to humans. By August 2026, Germany has seen record numbers of sightings linked to an exceptionally hot summer and successive heatwaves. NABU continues to monitor these populations to determine if metapopulations in southwestern and eastern Germany are merging.

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