Subject: Just found
From: "bart b
Date: Thu, January 10, 2013 10:57 am


I found a bee-nest like structure about half the size of a golf ball on a limb in my
Christmas tree. Interested but not knowing what it was, I put it on a widow sill and
forgot it. Today, a week later, I found about a hundred two-quarter inch long, brown
mantids on the window!

I brushed them into a jar and put holes in the top.

Any ideas, suggestions!

Bart B
Houston TX

Subject: praying mantis eggs
From: "amanda s
Date: Mon, January 28, 2013 8:42 pm


Hi.

Last year in Sept. 22 2012 I saw a praying mantis laying her eggs on the steps
outside & the steps have a ridge like to them. Now being end of January when will
the eggs hatch. I am in Maryland.




Thank You
Amanda


Subject: Egg case on Christmas tree hatched!
From: "Kevin and Laura E
Date: Wed, January 30, 2013 9:36 pm

Hi!

I found your website while researching how to care for the "babies" that showed up
in my house. Thanks for all the cool info!

I knew there was something on the Christmas tree this year but didn't know what it
was. My family insisted on leaving it there because it added to the "natural" look
of the tree. So for some reason or another - the tree stayed up until last weekend
and then we discovered all of these nymphs. We collected as many as we could find
because we knew they would die when the tree went out the door. I think we ended up
with about 35.

A lot of them died within a day or two while I tried to figure out how to care for
them. The first fruit flies from a pet store were almost all dead. I found another
place to get them and the remaining 12 or so seem good, but I have a couple of
questions.

How much do newly hatched nymphs need to eat? They seemed to be really ravenous when
I first introduced the fruit flies - now not so much. Is it because they might be
ready to molt? About how often do they molt?

I have them in a plastic critter container, but they are so small that occasionally
one will escape through the vented top. What would you recommend to cover the vents?
The fruit flies also manage to scurry up the sides and out the vents easily!

Is it really necessary to clean the cage? They are so fast and tiny that it's hard
to even get them fed without having them get out. I can't imagine how I could clean
the container unless I buy another one and move each one over.

I would really like to be able to have these guys live until I can release them
outside. I feel guilty that they were brought inside and made to hatch so early. I
also have an egg case in a bush by my front steps that I now know to watch come
Spring!

Thanks so much for any help -

Laura