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Praying Mantis eggs are only available January through the end of June.

The Praying Mantis, because of its appearance and attitudes, is a fascinating insect. It is strictly carnivorous and feeds on almost any insect of a size it can overcome. Praying Mantis Egg Cases are harvested in their natural environment. The female deposits the eggs in the fall in a frothy secretion that hardens and protects the eggs from predators and severs winter climates.

The egg cases are attached to twigs, leaves, fences, etc. and may contain 50 to 400 eggs with an average of about 200. Upon hatching in the spring (this can take between two and eight weeks of warm weather) the young crawl from between tiny flaps in the case and hang from silken threads about two inches below the case. After drying out, the long-legged young disperse into the vegetation leaving little, if any, evidence of their appearance. This happens within an hour or two and it is very difficult to know hatching has occurred unless the elusive, well-camouflaged young are found.