Is it true that praying mantis eat black widows?

Question

I read on a few websites that they are the enemy of black widows. I'm thinking of investing in some mantis eggs since I've found a few widows around my house.

Answer 1

Praying mantises are very effective hunters and killers of other insects and of spiders. Once they get large, in the fall, they will go after pretty much anything. It is quite a sight to see them catch a large wasp or cicada - they look like 3 inch versions of the Alien, and are just as fast and vicious. But praying mantises don't tend to live in the same places as black widow spiders. Mantises prefer bright and open locations, BW spiders prefer dark and damp places.

I don't think you would be able to keep mantises alive around your house on a diet of black widow spiders.

Answer 2

I can only find a couple of references to this, so I very much doubt it. The only link between them is that the females kill the males in both species as part of the mating process (mantis - during, widows - after)

Answer 3

I seriously doubt that is true. If given the chance i am sure that they would have no problem killing a black widow and eating it, but they like different types of habitat. Black widows like dark dry places, while the praying mantis likes to be out in the open. I would not bring praying mantis eggs into your home. they themselves would become the pest quickly.  (Trust me on this one....lol My brother once brought a weed with a gall on it inside, little did he know it was filled with praying mantis eggs. They were all over the house in no time!) They have absolutely no problem taking a bite out of you if they can't find anything else to chew on.

If you have a problem with black widows I would suggest using a bug bomb that has them listed on its label.