During the holidays, a man discovered praying mantis eggs on his Christmas tree, prompting a social media warning. He spotted a walnut-sized, brown egg mass, known as an ootheca, containing 100–200 eggs. These egg cases, often attached to tree branches, house mantis eggs through winter, hatching in spring.
The man advised clipping and placing the branch outside to avoid indoor hatching and starvation. This unique holiday encounter reminds us to inspect Christmas trees carefully, ensuring an insect-free home while giving nature its proper place outdoors.
