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Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association shared a post.

9 hours ago

With tree-shopping season almost upon us, this is your reminder to check for unwanted presents BEFORE you bring them inside! Last year I found this Praying Mantis "eggcase" on our tree...which could have "hatched" into hundreds of tiny mantis nymphs, which I didn't want decorating my tree! If you find the same, you can cut the branch and place it in your vegetable garden.

Learn about praying mantis at extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/predators-praying-mantid-mantis?fbclid=IwAR2Q9qf30Pz3Kbn3HZBf7QMQAy...Check your Christmas trees for unwelcome visitors! I found two on my fir, shown in the top photo -- a Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (info links at end of post), which is sitting on a Chinese Preying Mantis eggcase (or ootheca). This foamy looking mass can contain hundreds of tiny mantis nymphs, which you definitely don't want escaping into your home over winter. Larger than our native Carolina Preying Mantis, this predator can grow up to 5" long and can take care of many harmful insects in the garden, though they also hunt butterflies (and there are anecdotes online of them attacking hummingbirds). You can cut the branch and place it the vegetable garden so they can hatch in a more desired location. The Asian Lady Beetle can also go outside. Learn more about preying mantids at UMD's extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/predators-praying-mantid-mantis and learn about the Asian Lady Beetle in the summer newsletter at nsvmga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nsvmga-newsletter-2018-summer.pdf. ... See MoreSee Less

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