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| The only egg cluster found on a lilac bush. Also the lowest one at 48" above ground level. |
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| All but two of the egg clusters were found in hazelnut bushes. All were between 4'-and-7' above ground with most of them at 5'. All were on branches that were angled 45 degrees, +/- 15 degrees from vertical. |
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| This egg mass is on a pawpaw bush |
Many years ago someone I knew bought a live Christmas tree, brought it home and put it up. Two weeks later her house was full of preying mantis! This was in Alabama.
ReplyDeleteI like those critters,but if they were more common and four feet tall, everyone would have to carry a shotgun.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the size and shape of the cluster is entirely different than here on the Oregon coast. As is the locations they turn up, mostly on the underside of the deck railings and so on, and much closer to the ground.
ReplyDeleteThat's egg cade of the introduced but now well-distributed/naturalized Chinese species if praying mantis. The native American species' egg cases are smaller and flatter.
ReplyDeleteThat's egg cade of the introduced but now well-distributed/naturalized Chinese species if praying mantis. The native American species' egg cases are smaller and flatter.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 12 years old, I found one of those egg clusters on a bush in the woods. I didn't know what it was but thought it was a buckeye or some such. I brought it home and it sat on the dresser in my room for a few weeks. Suddenly one day, it hatched. There were thousands of tiny praying mantises all over my room.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was not pleased.
Like Justin, I have a soft spot in my heart for those critters. I have been known to capture a few and turn them loose in my garden.
The biggest one I ever saw was about 8 inches long, a big fat green one, probably about to lay her eggs. She was sitting on the outer mesh of one of those industrial bug zappers grabbing them as they went by.