Because commercial sellers get their supplies of manis cases from Christmas Tree growers during the tree harvest season and when the trees are shaped for the new year of growth in January.
To everything, there is a season!
Happy Manis Harvesting Season!
Freddallas
Dr. Entomology Suggests...
Praying Mantis egg cases are available from January through April (or while our supplies last). The hatching period is in the Spring months, earlier in the warmer Southern states, and as late as June in the Northern United States. The eggs hatch out when the weather becomes warm and their insect prey becomes available.
After hatching, the baby mantises, also known as nymphs, emerge from the egg case and float to the ground. They resemble large mosquitoes when young and are very difficult to see as they blend easily with plant life. Through Spring and Summer, they shed their skins many times. They vary in color and are gray, green, and pinkish, but they usually darken with age. Their color is a natural camouflage - it fools even other insects.Praying Mantises have an enormous appetite and never seem to get enough to eat. In their young stages, they eat aphids, flies, small caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects. As they grow, they start to eat larger insects. With plenty to eat, the Chinese species, and especially the females, sometimes grow to five inches. The female usually eats the smaller male after mating. They are carnivorous, or "meat eaters," and do not eat vegetation.The Mantises vary from Ladybugs in that they lay in wait for their prey and when it is close enough, snap it up with a lightning movement of their strong forelegs. Ladybugs are constantly on the prowl searching for food. Mantises seldom eat Ladybugs due to a bitter taste. However, when hungry enough, they even eat each other!
Mantises are poor at flying and walk slowly. If they have plenty to eat, they usually stay close to where they were born. With plenty to eat, the female lays eggs in the Fall and the egg cases can stand severe Winter climates, hatching the following Spring. She may lay several egg cases in different locations.These insects are very ferocious looking creatures, but are harmless to humans. If handled properly, they do not bite. Do not pick them up behind the forelegs. They can become tame enough to be pets and will sometimes eat insects from your fingers. The mantis is the only known insect that can turn its head to look over its shoulder. Nature places the strong forelegs in a position to remind one of praying. From this they derive their name.When Your Egg Case Arrives:Remove the egg case from the small 1 oz. vial. Wash out the larger 8 oz. vial and let dry. Place the egg case in the large vial and cap. If you wish to use a larger container, make sure that it is vented but screened. When the mantises hatch, they are very tiny and may escape from a poorly secured environment.
At a room temperature of 67 - 78 degrees, they should hatch in 3 to 6 weeks. It is suggested that you release these as soon as possible into the environment. Mantids are solitary hunters and take only prey smallerthan themselves. After hatching, the mantids quickly disperse and begin to stalk or quietly lie in wait for prey. If they remain together, they are constantly agitated and intimidated by creatures of their own size and who might eat them, as well. Consequently, they don't eat and die. You might keep 1 or 2, but be prepared to findvery small insects, such as aphids, to feed them. They are voracious eaters and grow quickly when provided with adequate food. They will get their water from these insects.
If you have any questions, please call us at 800-LIVE BUG, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Time.
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/praying-mantis-egg-cases.html
Praying mantids are a well-known insect predator. Their egg cases are occasionally found in Fraser fir Christmas trees. Females lay between 200-400 eggs in the fall in a frothy liquid which hardens, sticking to the branch. Once warmed in the home, unfortunately, the eggs hatch and the tiny mantids can invade your home. Again, these insects do not bite or carry disease. If the egg case can be located, remove it from the tree and put it outside. Small mantids that have escaped can be vacuumed up or caught and released outside.
http://todd.sunflowerclub.net/
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