Mickey Raine writes:
A few years back, my wife Elaine and I noticed how many of the Praying Mantis egg casings we spotted during the winter in Mill Creek Marsh were either gone or destroyed by the following spring, therefore producing very little in the form of new population.
Many of these sacs were either lying on the ground, completely exposed to any predator or poorly hanging on to excessively thin stems of invasive vines, again not properly protected from the harsh elements.
Upon careful study and research of how the Praying Mantis reproduction usually succeeds, Elaine had a much better idea of how to raise the odds of survival.
This past winter, when we found disturbed egg casings (above), Elaine attached them to bamboo skewers and secured them onto branches, using higher gauge string.
All have survived the winter beautifully.
As an extra precaution in the event no others in the marsh area survived, we kept one of the casings in a jar. When the babies hatched, Elaine took a couple of photos and immediately took the jar with the babies over to Mill Creek Marsh, where she released them in a safe spot.
(Thanks, Elaine and Mickey!)
I haven’t seen a preying mantis in the wild since I was in kindergarten. I hope they make a good comeback!
What a fantastic good deed. 🙂
Also, I am in love with the photo of the jar. It’s awesome.
Awesome!!!
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My mantis laid an egg sack in her tank today. I want to move the sac when it hardens. What did you put on top of the jar until they hatched? Thanks!
I have found a pre=aying mantis nesst attached to our Christmas tree. Not realizing what it was I left it there until we recycled the tree.
because it was left in oour home it has hatched. Its January, they wont survive outside. What should I do with them?