Praying Mantis Eggs On Christmas Trees In Illinois

That pinecone on your tree may look whimsical and Christmasy, but take a closer look, and you may realize it’s not a pinecone at all. Some are praying mantis eggs that need to be snipped right away. Read this article to know the difference and keep your home pest-free.

Whether or not you have already picked up your family Christmas tree for this year, there is still plenty of time to decorate this must-have centerpiece of the holiday season. While many go for the reusable ones, there are still many that prefer the look, feel, and smell of true spruce.

Pexels/NastyaSensei

While you’re trimming the tree this season, be sure to watch out for pinecone-shaped masses that may seem like something charming to leave attached. These objects aren’t pinecones at all.

Flickr/Kristine Paulus

This acorn-like mass is actually a sack of praying mantis eggs that are waiting to hatch. There could be hundreds inside.

Flickr/Joshua Ganderson

In the fall, momma praying mantises lay their eggs on trees and branches where they are supposed to be safely kept until spring, if kept in the right conditions (i.e. outside).

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Praying mantises can lay up to 400 eggs at a time, and when brought inside, the eggs warm up and may think it is spring. If they hatch in your house, the babies could starve and die, and that’s not a very merry Christmas for anyone.

Wikimedia Commons/Ajit Pendse

You can be proactive by examining your tree for these egg sacks, trimming any branches that contain them, and taking them outside.

Flickr/Melissa

While natural pinecones on Christmas trees are charming and whimsical, these ones are not. Make sure your tree is free of praying mantises for the holidays.

Flickr/Artur Staszewski

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