TOPEKA (KSNT) – Looking through the plants in your garden, you may have noticed a mysterious egg or two. So what’s inside?
Far from harboring any pests that might harm the plants in your garden, these hardened Styrofoam-like eggs contain insects that can help keep your herbs and flowers safe. The eggs contain young praying mantises, also called praying mantises, which can bring many benefits to the garden.
Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd shared recently because these “guardians of the garden” should be welcomed by gardeners. The insects prey on other pests such as flies, crickets and wasps once they grow large enough.
Praying mantis eggs hatch about 3 to 10 weeks after being laid with those that emerge from the eggs being called nymphs. The eggs can often be found attached to the branches and branches of the plant with the sides of the houses and fences. Gardeners can see these egg cases between the months of November and April each year.
“The nymphs that emerge in the spring look like miniature adults,” Cloyd said. “However, not all nymphs will survive to become adults because they are susceptible to predation by birds, toads, lizards and predatory insects.”
Cloyd says gardeners can take steps to help nymphs survive to adulthood. These include:
- Remove the egg case and place it in a glass jar with a lid that has perforated air holes. This can be stored in your home.
- After four to six weeks, the nymphs will begin to emerge. You can delay their arrival by putting the jar in the refrigerator and remove it one to two months before the nymphs emerge.
- Do not immediately release the nymphs into the wild so they can feed. You should also avoid releasing it outside if the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you can’t find mantid eggs in your garden, you can try buying some from garden centers, nurseries or other sources. To find answers to other garden questions, you can email Cynthia Domenghini with K-State at cdom@ksu.edu or reach out to your location. K-State Research and Extension Office.
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