A live Christmas tree can bring mantises into your home: what to watch out for.

According to ТСН: During the Christmas holidays, social media is actively discussing the warning against decorating homes with live Christmas trees. It concerns unusual brown growths on the branches that may look like small pine cones or dense lumps the size of a walnut.

As users and creators of popular videos claim, these formations are sometimes egg sacs of the mantis, which may contain from 100 to 200 eggs. They are well camouflaged on coniferous trees, blending in with the branches and bark, making them hard to notice when buying or transporting the tree.

Problems indoors

Problems can arise when the tree is brought into a warm room. The heating conditions in houses favor the hatching of the eggs, which means small mantises may appear in your home during the decoration of the tree or shortly after.

This was pointed out by blogger Lexi Natoli, who posted a warning on TikTok. She urged to carefully inspect live trees and to dispose of the tree immediately if any suspicious lumps are found.

‘Such egg sacs often occur specifically on Christmas trees.’

User reactions

The video quickly gained popularity and elicited numerous comments. Some users joked about the possibility of ‘neighborhood’ with mantises, while others shared unpleasant stories. People recounted that insects hatched in their homes or even in cars after transporting the tree.

Commenters also noted that some families switched to artificial trees that can be used for many years. Others pointed out they had refused to use natural trees not only due to insects but also for safety reasons.

Attention to live trees

It is important to note that this warning applies exclusively to live Christmas trees, and such cases are considered rare. However, specialists and users advise carefully inspecting the branches before decorating to avoid unpleasant surprises during the holidays.

Recall that earlier we discussed how to properly care for the tree to make the celebration last as long as possible.

Despite the fact that cases of mantises hatching from eggs that have been stored on trees are rare, they should be taken into account when choosing a live tree. Paying attention to details will help make the celebration safer and more enjoyable, without spoiling the joys of the holy evening.