Farmers Market Find: Praying Mantis Egg Cases

David Spaulding has an unusual hobby: He sells praying mantis egg cases.

At first glance, the egg cases don’t look like much. Spaulding will sell you an egg case, about the size of a large gumball, inside a plastic container for $8 at the. Inside each egg case awaits approximately 200 praying mantises ready to overpower and devour those pesky mosquitoes, flies and wasps in your backyard or garden.

The carnivorous insects are born without wings. “About four weeks after they hatch they develop their wings," the Toledo resident said. "They can fly, but they don’t like to."

For the curious, Spalding has recently hatched mantises on display at the market.

If you purchase egg cases, Spaulding says it’s best to keep them in your house in the plastic container until they hatch.

“Some people will just set the eggs in their yard and (then) think they never hatched because the cases don't change in appearance, so you can’t tell,” he said.

Keep the eggs indoors in direct sunlight. A window sill works well. Be patient, Spalding said, as it can take several weeks for them to hatch, especially if the weather is cool. Once they do, sprinkle the little bug hunting machines throughout your garden or yard.

Lisa Jabolonski of Royal Oak, purchased some praying mantis egg cases last year and was back for more last week. “I’m hoping they eat the mosquitoes,” she said. In a strange circle of life, Jabolonski noticed birds like to eat the mantises.

“I really like bugs!” said 5-year-old bug expert Logan Zielinski, of Warren, who talked his mother into buying him some eggs. It didn’t take much convincing.

“I feel it’s important for him to learn about nature – to touch and look,” mom Heather said. Bug watching is a fun activity for children, she noted.

"You can bug watch right in your backyard for free," she said, but she splurged for the mantises for her son anyway. 

The praying mantis egg cases will be available at the Royal Oak Farmers Market through June.

Come back to Royal Oak Patch next Friday for another Farmers Market find.