The Warning Is Going Out About Sacs Of Insect Eggs Hiding In Christmas Trees

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It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is now behind us. It seems as if we were waiting for that time of year for far too long, especially for it to be over so quickly. Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way, however, many families are looking forward to their celebration of Christmas. Things are going to be different this year due to the pandemic, but it is still a celebration that many people appreciate. It is a time of year that is full of nostalgic tradition, and one of those is bringing in the Christmas tree. Sure, there are artificial trees but for many families, a real tree is the only thing that will happen in their home.

Although it can be enjoyable to have a Christmas tree in the home, it seems as if there is also something to be cautious of. There may just be some unexpected and unwanted guests that are hiding with the pine needles. Those insects have a way of hiding within the tree and the egg sacs may go unnoticed. It came to light when a Facebook post was warning people to check for lumps before they put on the decorations. Those large lumps are not a natural part of the tree but rather, they are egg sacs that contain hundreds of little praying mantises. They may be interesting to see outside in the garden, but it is a different story when they are inside.

In North America and southern Europe, praying mantises are commonly seen. They may also be found in colder areas at times. Some of the common types of trees where they tend to hang out include the Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, or Fraser Fir. When the trees are brought inside and the egg sacs warm-up, a hatch is only around the corner.

In other words, you may wake up on Christmas morning and find that you have 200 baby praying mantis on your Christmas tree. It’s not exactly the way that most of us want to spend Christmas morning. Just be aware of the possibility and look for those egg sacs before you make the move of bringing your Christmas tree indoors.