How to Get the Praying Mantis in Grow a Garden — And Why It's a Mutation Powerhouse
Launch
14 September 2025
Why the Praying Mantis Deserves the Hype
The Praying Mantis is the only pet that raises mutation odds across all crops. Its passive skill, Gene Slicer, adds a flat +4 % success rate to any active mutation attempt while equipped. Stacking that bonus on top of catalysts lets advanced breeders hit double-digit mutation chances—turning rare hybrids from pipe dream into pipeline. On top of that, a high-level Mantis grants a 2 % chance per harvest to drop Gene Fragments, a trade-only currency worth big Bee Coins.
Prerequisites
- Player level 22+ — unlocks the Jungle Reach biome.
- 1,500 Gold — access fee for the Insectarium Hatchery.
- Empty Critter Coop slot (or 250 Gold to buy one).
- Insect Net Tier 2 — boosts jungle catch rate.
- 10 Vine Traps (optional) — halves capture timer.
Three Proven Ways to Obtain a Mantis Egg
| Method | Eggs/hour | Average cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle Reach bug hunt | 0.3 | Free (gear only) | Mantis nymphs spawn on giant leaves every 20 min |
| Insectarium Capsule gacha | — | 300 Bee Coins per capsule | 1.5 % pull rate for Mantis Egg |
| Player trading | Varies | 600–750 Bee Coins | Prices spike during hybrid events |
Method 1 | Jungle Bug Hunt (Best ROI)
- Equip the Insect Net Tier 2 and head to Jungle Reach.
- Look for shimmering Mantis Nymphs clinging to leaf undersides.
- Interact to start a 10-second capture mini-game; Vine Traps cut this to 5 s.
- Each captured nymph has a 15 % chance to convert into a Mantis Egg.
- Nymphs respawn every 20 minutes; rotate servers to accelerate farming.
Method 2 | Insectarium Capsule (Fast but Expensive)
Pay 300 Bee Coins per spin at the Insectarium Gacha inside the plaza. Rarity table:
- Common — 48 %
- Uncommon — 30 %
- Rare — 18 %
- Epic (Mantis tier) — 1.5 %
- Legendary — 2.5 %
Statistically, expect one Mantis every 67 capsules (20,100 Bee Coins). Only whales or event dupers use this route.
Method 3 | Marketplace Flip
- Monitor #trade-hub on the official Discord; watch for "WTS Mantis Egg".
- Aim for 650 Bee Coins or less—higher only if the Hybrid Frenzy event is live.
- Use the in-game value checker to avoid scams; eggs resemble Locust eggs but tooltip confirms species.
Hatching the Mantis Egg
- Place egg in a Critter Coop slot and pay the 1,500 Gold Insectarium fee (one-time per account).
- Base incubation: 15 minutes.
- Add Bio Boosters (50 Bee Coins each) to shorten hatch time by 3 minutes per booster (max = 5).
- Success rate: 100 %—no dud eggs.
Mantis Perks by Level
| Level | Gene Slicer bonus | Gene Fragment drop chance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +4 % | — |
| 5 | +5 % | 0.5 % per harvest |
| 10 | +6 % | 1.0 % |
| 15 | +7 % | 1.5 % |
| 20 (max) | +8 % | 2.0 % |
Level quickly: assign the Mantis to fast-growing crops (Strawberries, Peppers) to rack up harvests.
Total Cost Breakdown (Smart Hunter Route)
- Insect Net Tier 2 — 1,200 Gold
- Vine Traps ×10 — 500 Gold
- Mantis Egg (self-caught) — 0 Gold
- Insectarium access — 1,500 Gold
- Total: 3,200 Gold
Monetizing the Mantis
Boosting Mutation Profit
Each successful hybrid sells for 6,000–12,000 Gold. A +4 % base bump means one extra success every ~25 attempts; with Tier 5 farms, that's an extra 50,000 Gold per hour during heavy breeding sessions.
Selling Gene Fragments
Fragments trade at 35 Bee Coins each. At level 20, a dedicated farmer harvesting 500 crops/hour nets roughly 10 fragments → 350 Bee Coins hourly.
Flipping High-Level Mantises
Level-20 Mantises list for 1,800–2,200 Bee Coins. Power-level one, flip it, and reinvest in additional eggs.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Mantis with Locust eggs — always hover for tooltip.
- Hatching without open pet slot — pet auto-deletes if inventory full.
- Running mutation without equipping pet — bonus applies only when active.
- Using Bio Boosters on first egg — save coins; 15 min hatch is tolerable.
- Selling fragments pre-event — prices surge 40 % during Hybrid Frenzy.
Advanced Strategies
Double-Mantis Rotation
Equip Mantis #1 while setting mutations, then swap to Mantis #2 for harvesting crops to farm fragments—maintains mutation bonus uptime and fragment income simultaneously.
Server-Hop Nymph Loop
Clear all nymph spawns in one shard, note the clock, hop to the next. A four-server rotation yields ~6 eggs/hour at peak efficiency.
Gene Fragment Arbitrage
Buy fragments cheaply after events, stockpile, then resell when new hybrid recipes drop. Margins average 25–30 % in the first 24 hours post-patch.
FAQ
- Does Gene Slicer stack with catalysts?
- Yes—additive. Five catalysts (+30 %) + level 20 Mantis (+8 %) = 38 % total boost.
- Can I equip multiple Mantises?
- No. Only one active pet bonus applies; extras can sit idle or be traded.
- Does the Mantis help cross-pollen crops?
- Indirectly. Faster mutations mean more pollen opportunities over time.
- Are Mantis Eggs tradable?
- Yes, until hatched.
- Do Bio Boosters affect hatch perks?
- No. They only reduce incubation time.
Conclusion
The Praying Mantis turns RNG-heavy hybrid breeding into a predictable, profitable science. Hunt nymphs in Jungle Reach for the egg, hatch it in the Insectarium, level it on rapid-cycle crops, and watch your mutation lab light up with Celestial, Gilded, and other high-value variants. Toss in steady Gene Fragment sales and you'll recoup your investment long before your first hybrid hits the market.