These ferocious looking creatures devour many harmful garden pests, but are completely harmless to humans, pets, and plants. In fact they can be kept as pets, and will eat raw meat or insects from your fingers. The Praying Mantids will eat most species of garden pests, including white grubs, beetles, chinch bugs, tent caterpillars, grasshoppers, aphids, flies, leafhoppers and caterpillars.
Bring it. Dusk, tomorrow.
:::
post script:
I placed the 2 egg casings of Praying Mantids into the crooks of the artichoke bush, which is where the majority of the garden pests are clamoring around. The container stated that the hatching would occur 2-3 weeks after exposure to warm weather, which I don't know how long these egg casings were at room temperature at FlowerCraft, when I bought them. Approximately 200 1/4" long baby mantids should emerge from each casing, and they are apparently pest-effective immediately. We'll see! (and YES, I shivered a total gross-me-out shiver when I opened the container and peered in at the two wasp-nest looking bundles (about the size of large walnuts). Be thankful I resisted taking pictures ~ EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!
post post script:
Kept missing dusk to release the ladybugs, and folklore has it that it HAS to happen at dusk, while they're still mobile, but looking to bed down for the night. That way the nestle in to the garden and don't fly off immediately. Shook them out and watched them all pick new homes among the leaves, so all's well.
oh great, now I'm all itchy....eewwww
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