Praying Mantis Egg Case

By Donna L. Watkins

View Enlarged Image
Praying Mantis Egg Case
View More Praying Mantis Photos

While we were trimming back the mums I discovered a praying mantis egg case. We had one on a holly right in front of the breakfast area and it was obvious that a bird got inside looking for food. 

So, I decided to take this one from the mum clippings and have placed it between the screen and window of our dining room. It's protected from predators and in the natural temperatures so it will only "hatch" when it's time.

I hope to get photos when the little ones are crawling out. I'm excited to provide natural bug protection in our garden and to be able to see the process of it.  

Can you distinguish the praying mantis in this photo from the leaves around it?  They really do a good camouflage job so that their prey will not notice them.  See photos of them mating and hiding amongst the garden plants in this article:  About The Praying Mantis.