Praying mantis spotted in Czech mountain range
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Experts from Krkonoše National Park first observed the praying mantis, a warm-weather insect, in the Krkonoše mountains of the Czech Republic in 2019.
They found a female specimen on a meadow near Bolkov and Rudník at an altitude of 680 meters. Park officials have noted several sightings of the insect this year, including one in Suchý Důl near Horní Maršov.
Park director Petr Moravec explained that increasing temperatures are making praying mantis encounters in the Krkonoše mountains more likely, though still unusual. Krkonoše National Park Administration is interested in tracking changes in species distribution and how the local ecosystem responds to changing conditions. Park staff welcome reports of praying mantis sightings from the public. People can submit information about the location and date of a sighting, and include photographs, via email to the park administration.
Each report helps officials understand where the insects are appearing and whether their presence is isolated or becoming more common. The praying mantis is a distinctive predatory insect known for its elongated body, triangular head, and folded forelegs.
