One man saw something weird among the branches of the Christmas tree he had just cut down. He had no notion that the group that looked harmless would suddenly become popular and cause a lot of problems. He noticed something brown and strange hanging from the bottom of one of the branches as he stooped down to place an ornament. He was both curious and afraid, so he took a closer look. He didn’t find a piece of the tree; he found an ootheca, which is a shell for praying mantis eggs.
He was so astonished by what he saw that he put a picture of the egg sac on social media to tell other people about the bug that was lurking there. People listened to what he had to say right away because they could relate to it. The message was clear: buying a live Christmas tree during the holidays could bring more than just pine needles into your home.
The shells of praying mantis eggs blend in with their surroundings and can look like tree bark or twigs. Most of the time, these foam-like items are a drab brown or tan tint. They can store up to 200 tiny mantis nymphs that are waiting for the right temperature to hatch. The ootheca is formed in the fall or late summer. The warm air inside can cause the eggs hatch weeks or even months earlier than they should if the tree is cut down and brought inside for the holidays.
Experts believe that a sudden swarm of baby mantises could seem alarming, but they won’t damage people or pets. Many gardeners like praying mantises because they consume other bugs, such aphids and flies. They won’t stay in the house for long, though, and they might spread out to look for food and light, which could make cleaning up a little more difficult (but not harmful).
If you see a praying mantis egg case in your tree, don’t worry. You can either relocate the branch outside or carefully cut around the ootheca and take it off. In the spring, the young mantises will hatch on their own if you leave the egg case in a safe spot in your yard, like on a bush or a tree limb. unknown Some folks use string or garden twine to tie the egg case to a tree or fence nearby so it doesn’t move until the weather warms up.
This bizarre story about a holiday reminds us that nature may get in the way of our most treasured traditions. Every year, we sell millions of real Christmas trees, and animals often dwell on them. It could be a home for a little bird, a spider, or even a praying mantis. Take a few more minutes to look at your tree before you bring it inside. This plan can help you avoid surprises.
Before you bring your Christmas tree inside, shake it well to keep any six-legged guests from hatching this year. Then, check the branches carefully for any odd bunches, sacs, or small animals. You won’t have any surprise visitors over the holidays if you complete these simple things. The only time you might want more people to help with pest control in the spring is if you want more people to help.
You and your social media followers will never forget finding a praying mantis egg case in your Christmas tree.
