Our Tolland County Extension office has had a lot of praying mantis in the gardens this year. Three more egg cases were found earlier this fall. Each case takes about five months to hatch, waiting for a few weeks of warmer weather, when they sense “summer.” The cases can hold anywhere from 100-200 tiny Mantises.

Although the Praying Mantis can be elusive and camouflage into their environment, we’ve been lucky to watch them hatch and see them around the gardens this year. Spend some time quietly observing your garden, you never know what you will find.